Course Outline
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- Introduction to Red Blood Cell Morphology
- Normal Red Blood Cell Morphology
- The Peripheral Smear: Reviewing Red Blood Cell Morphology
- Introduction to Red Blood Cell Morphology Reporting
- Table 1: Guidelines for Reporting Red Blood Cell Morphology
- Abnormal Red Blood Cell Morphology Review
- Red Cell Morphology Reference Tables
- Variations in Red Blood Cell Sizes
- Table 2: MCV Classification
- Variations in Hemoglobin Content
- Table 3: Hemoglobin Content (MCHC) Classification
- Variations in Red Blood Cell Shapes
- Abnormal Red Blood Cell Distribution
- Red Blood Cell Inclusions
- Table 6: Red Blood Cell Inclusions Review
- Case Studies in Red Blood Cell Nonneoplastic Conditions
- Hemolytic Conditions with Spherocytosis
- Case Study OneA 12-year-old child presents with jaundice and scleral icterus. The image to the right captures a representative section of the peripher...
- Case Study One (continued)Which hematologic condition could be associated with the findings shown in this image?
- Case Study Two A known case of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is presented in the image on the right. Many different cellular morph...
- Case Study ThreeA 49-year-old patient with pneumonia was treated with high-dose intravenous penicillin. The patient became jaundiced with yellow scler...
- Macrocytosis-Associated Conditions
- Case Study FourA complete blood count (CBC) was ordered for a patient recently admitted to the emergency department. The MCV on the count was 115 femt...
- Case Study FiveA patient has an elevated MCV on the automated CBC and a peripheral blood smear is reviewed. A representative field is shown on the rig...
- Intracellular RBC Inclusions
- Case Study SixA 25-year-old asplenic patient with disseminated lymphoma is admitted to the hospital. A CBC is ordered, and a peripheral blood smear is...
- Case Study SevenA toddler is being treated for lead poisoning. You observe the inclusions indicated by the arrows in many RBCs on the peripheral blood...
- Case Study EightA 66-year-old patient has been diagnosed with sideroblastic anemia. The inclusions indicated by the arrows in the image were seen in m...
- Case Study NineA 10-year-old child came to a physician's attention because of recent jaundice and icteric sclerae after taking the medication Primaqui...
- Dimorphic Red Blood Cell Populations
- A blood smear represented by the photograph was submitted for hematologic review. Based on the erythrocyte morphology and the accompanying histogram, ...
- Target cells and Sickle Cells
- Hemoglobin E (HbE) and HbE/Beta Thalassemia
- Case Study A five-month-old Asian child is brought to the pediatrician by her mother who is concerned because the child is not eating well. Upon exami...
- A CBC and reticulocyte count are ordered on a 10-year-old African-American male who was brought to the emergency department with rapid, shallow breath...
- Sickle cells along with target cells, as shown in this image, confirm a diagnosis of sickle cell disease (HbSS).
- Schistocytes, Bite Cells, and Teardrop Cells
- Case Study A patient is diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) based on clinical findings and laboratory results that include dec...
- The top image on the right represents a Wright-stained microscopic field from a peripheral blood smear. The bottom image represents a microscopic fiel...
- The cells indicated by the arrows provide a clue to the diagnosis of chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (primary myelofibrosis). What is the identity of...
- A 5-year-old girl was brought to the emergency department with bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. A complete blood count produced these result...
- Ovalocytes, Elliptocytes and Stomatocytes
- Ovalocytes/Elliptocytes
- Stomatocytes
- Case StudyA 13-year-old healthy male presents to his physician for a sports physical. A complete blood count (CBC) is ordered. The automated count tri...
- Multiple Erythrocyte Abnormalities
- Case Study
- Case Study, continued: Splenectomy Morphologies
- Case Study, continued: Poikylocytosis and Basophilic Stippling
- This slide is from a 28-year-old female who received a kidney transplant, which was preceded by a splenectomy six months prior to the kidney transplan...
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: Clinical laboratory science students, and medical technologists and technicians seeking review, cross training, or continuing education opportunities. It is also appropriate for medical students and pathology residents.
Author information: C. William Reiquam, MD (1923-2015) was a clinical professor of pathology in the School of Medicine, University of Colorado. One of his areas of expertise was hematology.
Author information: Until his recent passing, Elmer W.Koneman M.D. was Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Koneman was a Board Certified Pathologist, former full Professor of Pathology University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was the author of numerous journal articles and books.
Reviewer information: Rory Huschka, M.Ed., MT(ASCP) is a Program Director at MediaLab Inc. He holds a BS degree from North Dakota State University in Medical Technology and an MS degree in Educational Leadership. He is a former Program Director for both MLT and MLS programs. Rory continues to teach as an adjunct professor for various colleges and universities.