The following table lists the various cell types and macroscopic descriptions of CSF, and the patient conditions that could cause those properties to be present in the patient's CSF:
| Predominant Cell | Appearance | Conditions |
| lymphs | variable; clear - turbid | - viral meningitis
- tubercular meningitis
- multiple sclerosis
- drug abuse
- lymphoma
- leukemia
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- chronic alcoholism
|
| neutrophils | variable; clear - turbid | - bacterial meningitis
- mycotic meningitis
- early tuberculosis
- hemorrhage
- cerebral abscess
- tumors
|
| monocytes | variable | - chronic bacterial meningitis
- partial treatment of meningitis
- tumors
|
| macrophages | clear - turbid or clear - xanthochromic bloody | - tuberculosis
- fungal meningitis
- following hemorrhage
- blood contamination
|
| eosinophils | variable | - parasitic meningitis
- fungal meningitis
- allergic reaction
|
| tumor cells | variable | |
| blast cells | variable | |
| normal to increased lymphs | clear - xanthochromic | |
| ependymal or orchoid cells (often clumped) | variable; may be xanthochromic bloody | |
Adapted from
Saunders Manual of Clinical Laboratory Science. Craig A. Lehrmann, Ed. WB Saunders, 1998.
