Hairy Cell Leukemia: A Rare Differential for a Pancreatic Mass

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2023

Publication Title

American Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

Introduction: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the presence of neoplastic B-cells with cytoplasmic villi (hairy) mainly in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and splenic red pulp, and sometimes also in liver, lymph nodes, or bones. Here, we present a patient with a rare case of HCL presenting as a pancreatic mass. Case Description/Methods: A 62-year-old gentleman presented with right lower extremity sciatic pain and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lumbar spine which showed incidental renal mass. His medical history was significant for HCL, treated with cladribine 9 years ago. Computed tomography of abdomen showed multiple left renal cysts and an incidental irregularity in pancreatic tail margins. Initial MRI abdomen confirmed the presence of irregularity at pancreatic tail but did not show a discrete mass. Follow-up MRI after 9 months showed significant interval progression of an infiltrative lesion along the pancreatic tail, which was partially encasing the pancreatic body, tail and splenic vessels, with extension to splenic hilum (Figure 1A). CA 19-9 and CEA were negative. Endoscopic ultrasound showed a 6.3 cm heterogenous solid mass suspicious of lymphoma (Figure 1B). Fine-needle aspiration revealed small lymphocytes with hairy cytoplasmic projections (Figure 1C) and flow cytometry confirmed expression of pan-B cell markers in addition to CD11c, CD25, CD103 and kappa light chains, consistent with HCL. Positron emission tomography scan revealed an FDG-avid infiltrating lesion in pancreatic body and tail. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy also showed an incidental fungating mass at gastroesophageal junction, which was confirmed to be esophageal adenocarcinoma on biopsy, for which the patient underwent endoscopic mucosal resection after staging. For his HCL recurrence, chemotherapy with cladribine and rituximab was planned. Discussion: HCL is typically not associated with lymphadenopathy or mass lesions. Few case reports have discussed gastrointestinal involvement in HCL. Diagnosis requires tissue biopsy with immunophenotyping. We present the first case of HCL presenting as a pancreatic mass with encasement of splenic artery and vein.

Volume

118

Issue

10S

First Page

S1562

Comments

American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting, October 20-25, 2023, Vancouver, Canada

Michigan Gastrointestinal Society 2nd Annual Conference, June 23-25, 2023, Traverse City, MI

Last Page

S1563

DOI

10.14309/01.ajg.0000958324.79653.70

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