Abnormal
Erythrocyte
Microcytic
RBC
Macrocytic
RBC
Microscopic Image
Description
Associated
diseases/disorders
A microcytosis is
a term used to
describe
red
blood cells that
are smaller than
normal. In the
case of microcytic
anemias, the body
has fewer red
blood cells than
normal.
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A macrocytosis is
a term used to
describe
red
blood cells that
are larger than
normal. In the
case
of
macrocytic
anemia, it is a
condition
in
which the body
has overly large
red blood cells
and not enough
normal red blood
cell.
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Pyridoxine
deficiency
Thalassemia
Iron
Deficiency
Anemia
Chronic
Disease
Anemia
Sideroblastic Anemia
Vitamin B12 Folate
Deficiency
Liver Disease
MDS
(Myelodysplastic
Syndromes)
Chemotherapy
Spurr
Cell
RBC
(Acanthocyte)
Burr
Cell
RBC
(Echinocyte)
A
spur
cell
anemia is an
acquired
hemolytic anemia
associated with
liver cirrhosis and
is characterized
by the presence of
increased large
red blood cells,
which are covered
with
spike-like
projections that
vary in width,
length,
and
distribution.
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Abetalipoproteinemia
Liver Disease
McLeod
Blood
Group Phenotype
Post-Splenectomy
A burr cells are
red blood cells
with short, evenly
spaced spicules
and
preserved
central pallor that
is
usually
artifactual. This
can be observed
in uremia and
liver disease
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Uremia
Liver Disease
Schistocyte
Bite Cell RBC
Elliptocyte
A schistocyte is a
fragmented part
of a red blood
cell. Schistocytes
are
typically
irregularly
shaped, jagged,
and have two
pointed ends.
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Bite cells are red
blood cells that
contain a semicircular indent on
the edge of their
membrane, giving
the appearance of
a bite being taken
out of the cell
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A elliptocytes are
elongated ovalshaped red blood
cells. Very rare
elliptocytes may
be seen in normal
blood
smears.
Elliptocytes may
be increased in
iron deficiency
anemia
where
they
are
sometimes
referred to as
pencil cells and
marrow
infiltrative
processes
with
teardrop cells.
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Microangiopathic
Hemolytic Anemia
Mechanical
Valve
Induced
G6PD
Deficiency
(Glucose-6Phosphate
Dehydrogenase)
Unstable
Hemoglobin
Disorders
Oxidative Drugs
Hereditary
Elliptocytosis
Severe
Deficiency
Iron
Spherocyte
Stomatocyte
Spherocytes are
red blood cells
that are sphereshaped rather than
the usual round
doughnut shape.
Spherocytes are
more fragile than
normal red cells
and their presence
is accompanied
by anemias of
varying severity.
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Stomatocytes are
red blood cells
that, under a
microscope, look
like “kissing lips”
or “coffee beans”
rather than a
biconcave
disc
with
a
clear
center.
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Hereditary
Spherocytosis
Autoimmune
Hemolytic Anemia
Hereditary
Stomatocytosis
Liver Disease
Target
RBC
Cell
Codocytes, also
known as target
cells, are red
blood cells that
have
the
appearance of a
shooting
target
with a bullseye.
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Thalassemia
Hemoglobinopathies
Post-Splenectomy
Liver Disease
Artifact
Sickle
RBC
Cell
An
inherited
disease in which
the red blood cells
have an abnormal
crescent shape,
block small blood
vessels, and do
not last as long as
normal red blood
cells.
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Hemoglobin
SS
Disease
Hemoglobin
SC
Disease
Hemoglobin
SD
Disease
S-beta Thalassemia
Teardrop cells are
frequently
associated with
infiltration of the
bone marrow by
fibrosis,
granulomatous
inflammation, or
hematopoietic or
metastatic
neoplasms.
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Teardrop
RBC
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Myelofibrosis
Underlying Marrow
Process/Infiltrate
Hemoglobin
C Crystals
Red
Cell
Agglutinate
Rouleaux
Hemoglobin
C
crystals are dense
rectangular
structures
composed
of
precipitated
hemoglobin
C.
Target cells form
when there is an
excess
of
membrane
in
relation
to
cytosol.
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A
red
cell
agglutination or
autoagglutination
is a phenomenon
in which red
blood cells clump
together, forming
aggregates. It is
caused by the
surface of the red
cells being coated
with antibodies.
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Rouleaux
are
clumps of red
blood cells that
look like stacked
plates.
They
usually form as a
result of abnormal
quantities
of
certain proteins
(immunoglobulin,
fibrinogen) in the
blood. Rouleaux
are a non-specific
indication of the
presence of a
pathology.
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Hemoglobin
Disease
Hemoglobin
Disease
SC
C
Cold Autoimmune
Hemolytic Anemia
Paroxysmal
Cold
Hemoglobinuria
IgM
Associated
Lymphoma
Multiple Myeloma
Chronic
Liver
Disease
Malignant
Lymphoma
Multiple Myeloma
Chronic
Inflammatory
Disease