Lymphadenopathy complicating hairy cell leukaemia. A case of disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii infection.

A patient with hairy cell leukaemia is described who developed progressive lymphadenopathy, which proved to be due to Mycobacterium kansasii infection. Clinicians should be alert to this rare but well-described complication of hairy cell leukaemia. Early lymph node biopsy is recommended in patients developing otherwise unexplained fever and lymph node enlargement.