Cytoplasmic Variations

More on May-Hegglin

  • May-Hegglin bodies stain blue and appear to have a more definite shape than Dohle bodies. When examined under electron microscopy, they appear to be aggregates of thread-like structures in a crystal-like arrangement. May-Hegglin inclusions are RNA material believed to be derived from the endoplasmic reticulum.

  • May-Hegglin bodies can be seen in monocytes and platelets as well as in all mature granulocytes.

  • The platelets in May-Hegglin anomaly are very bizarre in appearance and thrombocytopenia is usually noted.

  • When examining a slide that has bizarre platelets and blue-appearing bodies in the cytoplasm, thought should be given to the possibility of the May-Hegglin anomaly.

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