Teardrop cell
(dacryocyte)
Peripheral blood smear, Wright-Giemsa stain, 500x
Description:
Pear-shaped red cell. Seen with a broad spectrum of infiltrative disorders that disrupt the bone marrow architecture. Also seen with extramedullary hematopoiesis.
Pathobiology:
The abnormality is thought to be due to membrane damage to the red cell during maturation in a crowded bone marrow environment, damage at the time of exit from the bone marrow and subsequent circulation through the spleen.
Differential Diagnosis:
- Myelofibrosis
- Metastatic tumor in the bone marrow
- Extramedullary hematopoiesis
- Dyserythropoiesis
- Megaloblastic anemias
- Thalassemia- seen more with thalassemia major
- Acute leukemias
- Multiple myeloma
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Charles
E.
Hess,
M.D.,FACP
Professor of Internal Medicine |
| Department of Medicine Division of Hematology/Oncology |
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| M.D. Degree: | University of Virginia, 1959 | |
| Residency: | Internal Medicine, University of Virginia | |
| Fellowship: | Hematology, University of Virginia | |
| Certification: |
Internal Medicine
Hematology |
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| Research Interests: | Hematologic malignancies, splenomegaly | |
| Department Web Site: | http://www.healthsystem.vir ginia.edu/internet/internal/ |
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| Phone: | (434) 924-2572 | |