Enzyme histochemical demonstration of hairy cell leukaemia in paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

Hairy cell leukaemia is a form of leukaemia difficult to diagnose since pancytopenia is often present. Hairy cells contain tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and this factor is utilised in the diagnosis of the condition. This study confirms that it is also possible to demonstrate tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in leukaemic infiltrates in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections.