hairy cell


hairy cell

(hâr′ē)n. A white blood cell having multiple surface projections and characteristically present in hairy cell leukemia.
Haematology A round or ovoid, 12–20-µm peripheral blood cell characterised by filamentous projections that are fine/hairy by phase contrast and electron microscopy, but thick or smudged and irregular by light microscopy; hairy cells are monotonously uniform in appearance; the nucleus is ovoid and may be indented, and usually central, but may be eccentric with 1+ nucleoli; the chromatin is fine or slightly coarse; the moderate amount of cytoplasm stains pale blue; N:C ratio is 4:1 to 2:1

hair·y cell

(hār'ē sel) Medium-sized leukocytes that have features of reticuloendothelial cells and multiple cytoplasmic projections (hairs) on the cell surface, but may be a variety of B lymphocyte; found in hairy cell leukemia.