CUTANEOUS FINDINGS IN HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA - REVIEW OF 84 CASES

The authors of this paper present a retrospective analysis of 84 cases of hairy cell leukaemia diagnosed over the past ten years in two haem atology departments. Cutaneous manifestations are noted on 47 occasion s, 58% of infectious origin with 60% of these infections due to bacter ial agents, results which are in relatively close accord with those of the Mayo Clinic. Since no cases of necrotic angeitis or neutrophilic dermatosis are reported, the considerable number of publications conce rning these affections give a poor indication of their rarity. Prospec tive studies will be required to evaluate the incidence of spinocellul ar carcinoma and melanoma, while specific lesions are only infrequentl y encountered and do not appear to bear the same unfavourable prognosi s as in other haemopathia.