smudge cell

English

Micrograph of peripheral blood from a case of lymphocytic leukaemia showing smear cells (Giemsa stain)

Noun

smudge cell (plural smudge cells)

1. (hematology) cell remnant, most often seen with abnormally fragile lymphocytes in afflictions such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but also occurring in degenerating samples

Synonyms

• basket cell, smear cell
• Gumprecht's shadow, Gumprecht shadow, shadow cell of Gumprecht