Definition: A neoplastic disease of the lymphoreticular cells which is considered to be a rare type of chronic leukemia; it is characterized by an insidious onset, splenomegaly, anemia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, little or no lymphadenopathy, and the presence of "hairy" or "flagellated" cells in the blood and bone marrow.
since the disease is chronic, do not coordinate with CHRONIC DISEASE; note entry term RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS, LEUKEMIC;: RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS, AVIAN is also available
