RBC Morphology

Question 1

Anisocytosis

Answer 1

Abnormal variation of RBC size or volume

Question 2

Anisocytosis related disorders

Answer 2

Hemolytic anemia
Megaloblastic anemia
Fe deficiency anemias

Question 3

Macrocyte

Answer 3

Large RBCs; > 8 mm diameter; > 100 fL

Question 4

Macrocyte related disorders

Answer 4

Megaloblastic anemia
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Chronic liver disease
BM failure
Reticulocytosis

Question 5

Microcyte

Answer 5

Small RBCs; <6 um; MCV < 8 fL

Question 6

Microcyte related disorders

Answer 6

Fe deficiency anemia
Anemia of chronic inflammation
Sideroblastic anemia
Thalassemia / Hb E disease and trait

Question 7

Poikilocytosis

Answer 7

Abnormal variation in RBC shape.

Question 8

Poikilocytosis related disorder

Answer 8

Severe anemia

Question 9

Spherocyte

Answer 9

Elliptical or oval shaped RBC

Question 10

Elliptocyte related disorders

Answer 10

Hereditary elliptocytosis/ovalocytosis
Fe deficiency anemia
Thalassemia
Myelophthisic anemias

Question 11

Stomatocyte

Answer 11

RBC central pallor resembles a mouth; slit-like area

Question 12

Stomatocyte related disorders

Answer 12

Hereditary or acquired stomatocytosis (acquired: liver disease, alcoholism)
Rh deficiency syndrome
Artifact

Question 13

Codocyte

Answer 13

RBC resembling a target
Hgb conc in the center and around the periphery

Question 14

Codocyte related disorders

Answer 14

Liver disease
Hemoglobinopathies
Thalassemia

Question 15

Keratocyte

Answer 15

RBC fragment that resembles a helmet

Question 16

Keratocyte related disorders

Answer 16

Micro or macroangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Extensive burns

Question 17

Acanthocyte

Answer 17

Small, dense RBCs w/uneven spikes on the surface
Spikes vary in length and are irregularly spaced
AKA Spur Cells

Question 18

Acanthocyte related disorders

Answer 18

Severe liver disease
Spur cell anemia
Neuroacanthocytosis
Abetalipoproteinemia
McLeod syndrome

Question 19

Echinocyte

Answer 19

RBCs with even spikes on their surface
Spikes are blunt or pointed and evenly spaced
Typically present on all fields of a blood film
AKA Burr Cells

Question 20

Echinocyte related disorders

Answer 20

Uremia
Pyruvate kinase deficiency

Question 21

Dacrocyte

Answer 21

Teardrop or pear shaped RBC
Single pointed extension

Question 22

Dacrocyte related disorders

Answer 22

Primary myelofibrosis
Myelophthisic anemia
Thalassemia
Megaloblastic anemia

Question 23

Schistocyte

Answer 23

RBC fragments
Rupture in peripheral circulation

Question 24

Schistocyte related disorders

Answer 24

Micro or macroangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Extensive burns

Question 25

Sickle cell

Answer 25

Thin, dense, elongated RBCs that taper to a point or curve at the ends.

Question 26

Sickle cell related disorders

Answer 26

Sickle cell anemia Sickle cell beta thalassemia

Question 27

Rouleaux

Answer 27

Stacking of RBCs Stack of coins

Question 28

Rouleaux related disorders

Answer 28

Hyperfibrinogenemia Hyperglobulinemia