Hairy cell leukemia physical examination

Overview
Some of the leukemic cells may gather in the spleen and cause it to swell; this can have the side effect of making the person feel full even when they haven't eaten much.

Physical Examination
On physical exam, patients may display massive splenomegaly. This is less likely among patients who are diagnosed through routine blood work, when the disease is at an early stage. Enlarged lymph nodes appear in a few patients.