Echinocyte Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These are the MediaLab courses that cover Echinocyte and links to relevant pages within the course.

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CLIA Hematology / Hemostasis Review
What best describes the cells seen in this illustration:	View Page

Red Cell Disorders: Peripheral Blood Clues to Nonneoplastic Conditions
Note the view of a peripheral blood smear in the photograph. Pictured are scattered acanthocytes, echinocytes, target cells, spherocytes, and schistocytes. The condition in which each of these atypical RBC's may be found in varying numbers in the same peripheral blood smear is:	View Page
The erythrocyte at the tip of the arrow is an echinocycte (burr cell).	View Page
The peripheral blood picture shown in the photograph is most consistent with an artifact of smear preparation.	View Page
Cardiac hemolysis (Waring Blender Effect) Two photographs of a peripheral blood smear are submitted for review . The smears are from a 9-month-old baby with a heart valve replacement. In the upper photograph is a nucleated RBC and platelets are decreased. Nucleated red cells and occasional giant platelets indicate an active marrow response. In the process of forcing blood cells through the heart valve, erythrocytes are damaged, schistocytes are formed, and platelets are destroyed leading to thrombocytopenia. In the lower field are schistocytes, acanthocytes, echinocytes (burr cells), spherocytes, and the absence of platelets. The presence of burr cells could represent an artifact of smear preparation, but with the history of valve replacement, the red cell changes are likely the result of red cell damage as the cells circulate through the new valve. This situation is described as Waring Blender Effect because of damage to blood cells passing through the new valve, looking as if they had suffered the onslaught of a blender. Target cells and mild hypochromia may reflect iron deficiency through the loss of iron from destruction of RBC's. Iron loss through red cell destruction may be reflected in some hypochromia.	View Page
The photograph here is of a peripheral smear sent for hematologic review. No clinical information for the patient was sent with the slide. What is the first course of action that the reviewer should take to assist him/her in interpreting the findings on this blood smear?	View Page
After a review of the peripheral smear represented by this photomicrograph, which report is the most appropriate for documentation of the findings?	View Page
You have been asked to review a peripheral blood smear. You note >10/OIF (oil immersion field) echinocytes (burr cells). Which of the following actions would be the most appropriate response?	View Page

Red Cell Morphology
Which of the following forms is seen in this field?	View Page
The cell seen in the center of this slide is a/an:	View Page
Which of the following terms describes the cell seen in the center of this field?	View Page
Match the forms of poikilocytosis on the left with the physiological/environmental condition associated with their formation on the right:	View Page
Match the following terms with synonyms:	View Page
The identification of which of the following abnormal forms may contribute significantly to specific clinical diagnosis:	View Page
The predominant abnormal forms present in this field are:	View Page
The cell seen in the center of this field is:	View Page
The abnormal form seen in the center of this slide is:	View Page
Another Echinocyte Another example of an echinocyte is seen in the center of this slide. In rare instances, echinocytes circulate in vivo in uremia, following heparin injection, in certain congenital anemias and in pyruvate kinase deficiency. Plastic slides must be used to verify the presence of in vivo echinocytes. Since echinocytes do not aid in the diagnosis of these conditions, their main importance lies in the fact that they are artifactual and reversible and must be distinguished from acanthocytes.	View Page
Which of the following forms are frequently artifactual?	View Page
The three cells in the center of this field are:	View Page
The cell in the center of this field is a/an:	View Page
Echinocytes Echinocyte comes from the Greek word meaning “sea urchin,” which relates to its shell-like appearance. Echinocytes are reversible, meaning that this alteration can be the result of the cell’s environment, pH of the medium (including the glass slides on which blood smears are made), the metabolic state of the cell and the use of some chemical substances. An example of an echinocyte can be seen in the center of this slide. Notice the projections (10-30 can be seen) are rounded and evenly spaced around the cell. Acanthocytes have irregularly spaced thorn-like projections. An echinocyte is shown left of the B in this photomicrograph. A polychromatophilic cell is seen just above the echinocyte.	View Page
The predominant abnormal forms seen in this field are:	View Page
Synonym for echinocytes The synonyms for echinocytes are burr cells and crenated cells.	View Page
Stomatocyte The term, stomatocyte, is derived from the Greek term, stoma, meaning mouth. Stomatocytes are cup-shaped erythrocytes which have an elongated or slit-like central pallor. The occasional stomatocyte seen in normal smears is the result of a slight pH change in the environment similar to the in vitro changes which cause cells to assume the echinocyte shape. A stomatocyte can be seen in the center of this slide.	View Page
The predominant abnormal forms seen in this field are:	View Page
The predominant abnormal forms seen in this slide are:	View Page