Spontaneous rupture of spleen in leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis, or "hairy cell leukemia," is a neoplasm of the reticuloendothelial system. It is characterized by the presence of many "hairy cells" in blood, marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen; by anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and often, by massive splenomegaly. Three such patients with spontaneous rupture and one patient with multiple infarctions of the spleen all had spleens which were large, congested, and diffusely infiltrated by "hairy cells." The lacerations in all three ruptured spleens were located in areas of extensive infarction. Indications for splenectomy in this disease include hypersplenism, severe cytopenia, hemodilution, splenomegaly with severe pressure symptoms, massive splenomegaly, rupture, or infarction.