Illustrated in this field is a normoblast and a myelocyte, representing leukoerythroblastosis, a term associated with the release of immature cells from a disrupted marrow. Metastatic disease in the bone marrow, particularly in patients with primary breast or prostate cancer, is usually the culprit.

Leukoerythroblastosis in the absence of anemia or thrombocytopenia is a signal to search for cancer metastic to the marrow.

Nucleated RBCs were not identified on the blood smear seen here but were detected by an automated analyzer.

The mortality rate of elderly patients with increased NRBCs, especially following accidents or general surgery, is greater.