Sections View Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Annotate Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Supplementary Content +++ BLOOD SMEARS +++ ERYTHROCYTE (RBC) MORPHOLOGY ++ Normal: 7.5 μm diameter. Roughly the size of the nucleus of a small lymphocyte. Reticulocytes (Wright’s stain): large, grayish-blue, admixed with pink (polychromasia). Anisocytosis: variation in RBC size; large cells imply delay in erythroid precursor DNA synthesis caused by folate or B12 deficiency or drug effect; small cells imply a defect in hemoglobin synthesis caused by iron deficiency or abnormal hemoglobin genes. The automated red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of anisocytosis. Poikilocytosis: abnormal RBC shapes; the following are examples: Acanthocytes (spur cells): irregularly spiculated; abetalipoproteinemia, severe liver disease, rarely anorexia nervosa. Echinocytes (burr cells): regularly shaped, uniformly distributed spiny projections; uremia, RBC volume loss. Elliptocytes: elliptical; hereditary elliptocytosis. Schistocytes (schizocytes): fragmented cells of varying sizes and shapes; microangiopathic or macroangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Sickled cells: elongated, crescentic; sickle cell anemias. Spherocytes: small hyperchromic cells lacking normal central pallor; hereditary spherocytosis, extravascular hemolysis as in autoimmune hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficiency. Target cells: central and outer rim staining with intervening ring of pallor; liver disease, thalassemia, hemoglobin C, and sickle C diseases. Teardrop cells: myelofibrosis, other infiltrative processes of marrow (e.g., carcinoma). Rouleaux formation: alignment of RBCs in stacks; may be artifactual or due to paraproteinemia (e.g., multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia). +++ RBC INCLUSIONS ++ Howell-Jolly bodies: 1-μm-diameter basophilic cytoplasmic inclusion that represents a residual nuclear fragment, usually single; asplenic pts. Basophilic stippling: multiple, punctate basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions composed of precipitated mitochondria and ribosomes; lead poisoning, thalassemia, myelofibrosis. Pappenheimer (iron) bodies: iron-containing granules usually composed of mitochondria and ribosomes resemble basophilic stippling but also stain with Prussian blue; lead poisoning, other sideroblastic anemias. Heinz bodies: spherical inclusions of precipitated hemoglobin seen only with supravital stains, such as crystal violet; G6PD deficiency (after oxidant stress such as infection, certain drugs), unstable hemoglobin variants. Parasites: characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusions; malaria, babesiosis. +++ LEUKOCYTE INCLUSIONS AND NUCLEAR CONTOUR ABNORMALITIES ++ Toxic granulations: dark cytoplasmic granules; bacterial infection. Döhle bodies: 1- to 2-μm blue, oval cytoplasmic inclusions; bacterial infection, Chédiak-Higashi anomaly. Auer rods: eosinophilic, rodlike cytoplasmic inclusions; acute myeloid leukemia (some cases). Hypersegmentation: neutrophil nuclei contain more than the usual 2–4 lobes; usually >5% have ≥5 lobes or a single cell with 7 lobes is adequate to make the diagnosis; folate or B12 deficiency, drug effects. Hyposegmentation: neutrophil nuclei contain fewer lobes than normal, either one or two: Pelger-Hüet anomaly, pseudo–Pelger-Hüet or acquired Pelger-Hüet anomaly in acute leukemia. +++ PLATELET ABNORMALITIES ++ Platelet clumping: an in vitro artifact—is often readily detectable on smear; can lead to falsely low platelet count by automated cell counters. Giant platelets: can be a sign of a very young platelet or increased platelet production or abnormal karyocyte maturation; if the platelets are >5–6 ... Your Access profile is currently affiliated with '[InstitutionA]' and is in the process of switching affiliations to '[InstitutionB]'. Please click ‘Continue’ to continue the affiliation switch, otherwise click ‘Cancel’ to cancel signing in. Get Free Access Through Your Institution Learn how to see if your library subscribes to McGraw Hill Medical products. Subscribe: Institutional or Individual Sign In Username Error: Please enter User Name Password Error: Please enter Password Forgot Password? Forgot Username? Sign in via OpenAthens Sign in via Shibboleth