Pincer Cell
(Mushroom Cell)

Peripheral blood smear, Wright-Giemsa stain, 1000x
Description:
The red cell has a mushroom appearance and lacks central palor.
Pathobiology:
Due to a deficiency of band 3 membrane skeletal proteins.
Differential diagnosis:
- Hereditary spherocytosis due to band 3 membrane protein abnormalities
- Dyserythropoiesis- the range of poikilocytosis seen in the various dyserythropoietic disorders is quite broad.
For all publication requests, please complete the image permission form and we will respond to your request shortly.
![]() |
Charles
E.
Hess,
M.D.,FACP [more information]
Professor of Internal Medicine
|
||||
