Division of Haematological Pathology

Haematological Atlas - White blood cell morphology

White Cell Morphological Abnormalities

NEUTROPHILS:

Drumstick

Morphology:
Drumstick shaped nuclear appendage. ± 1,5 µm in diameter and attached to the nucleus by a filament. Inactive X chromosome of the female.

Found in:
Neutrophils of females
Males with Klinefelter syndrome

 

Sessile Nodule

Morphology:
Inactive X chromosome found as nodule on neutrophils of females.

Found in:
Neutrophils of females

 

Hypersegmentation or right shift
of neutrophil nuclei

Morphology:
Average lobe count increased OR increased % of neutrophils with 5 - 6 lobes OR > 3% neutrophils with 5 lobes or more.

Found in:
Megaloblastic anaemia
Iron deficiency
Chronic infection
Liver disease
Uraemia
Hereditary

 

Ring shaped nuclei

Morphology:
Nucleus ring or doughnut shaped

Found in:
Acute myeloid leukemia
Chronic granulocytic leukaemia
Megaloblastic anaemia
MDS

 

Detached nuclear fragments

Morphology:
Detached nuclear material in cytoplasm.