SYSTEMIC MAST-CELL DISEASE-ASSOCIATED WITH HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA

Systemic mast cell disease (SMCD) can be regarded as a tumorous prolif eration of tissue mast cells involving various organs. The frequency w ith which SMCD is found in patients with haematological disorders sugg ests that the association is non-random. The association includes prim arily, myeloid disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes and acute o r chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Lymphoproliferative disorders may also occur but more rarely, mostly non-Hodgkin's low grade B cell lymphomas. In this report a case is described in which SMCD occurred i n a patient with hairy cell leukaemia.