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The relapse of hairy cell leukemia after a 32‐year remission
Author(s) -
Temple J. Donald,
Harrington William J.,
McCoy Clyde B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19910401)67:7<1943::aid-cncr2820670719>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - splenectomy , hairy cell leukemia , medicine , deoxycoformycin , alpha interferon , hairy cell , complete remission , leukemia , complete response , spontaneous remission , surgery , interferon , spleen , immunology , chemotherapy , pathology , alternative medicine , adenosine , adenosine deaminase
The optimum therapy for hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is controversial. Dramatic responses to interferon‐alpha and 2′‐deoxycoformycin overshadow the established role of splenectomy in HCL, and patients currently can avoid surgery altogether. A case is presented of clinical remission lasting 32 years after splenectomy—a prolonged normal life, without medication or medical intervention. When relapse occurred, the patient's response to interferon‐alpha was prompt and predictable. Prognostic variables are an important consideration at the time of diagnosis in predicting the response to splenectomy.