Hairy cell leukemia is also a disease of the lymphocytes. The disease is so named because the lymphocytes have short, thin projections from their surface that look like hairs when examined under a microscope. The hairy cells accumulate in the bone marrow and spleen and to a lesser extent in the lymph nodes.
There are no known risk factors for hairy cell leukemia. Environmental and genetic risks have not been linked to the disease.
