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Hairy cell leukemia is a chronic type of leukemia, usually originating from B cells. It is characterized by malignant cells that have a ciliated appearance. Leukemia, in general, is a serious disease affecting blood-forming tissues, marked by an abnormally high count of white blood cells. While the exact cause of leukemia is unknown, risk factors include exposure to ionizing radiation and certain industrial chemicals. Leukemia can be classified as acute or chronic, and further into myelogenous or lymphocytic types. Hairy cell leukemia is a specific subtype within these classifications.12

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