| Parameter | Properties |
|---|---|
| White blood cell, lymphocyte | Smudge cell |
| Also known as | Basket cell |
| Definition | Remnants of fragile cells that are generated during preparation of peripheral smear. They lack any identifiable cytoplasmic membrane or nuclear structure. They contain dense nuclear material and/or chromatin strands. |
| Conditions associated with the cell type | Seen on routine blood smears of virtually all patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); may also occur in other lymphoproliferative disorders and viral infections such as infectious mononucleosis. |
| Mechanism of formation | Malignant or virally infected lymphocytes lymphocytes are more fragile than normal lymphocytes. These fragile lymphocytes rupture in the process of ex vivo smear preparation, forming smudge cells that consist largely of nuclear material. |
| Source/author | William Aird |
| Reviewed and edited by | Parul Bhargava |
| References | J Clin Oncol. 2009;27:1844 Leuk Res. 2010;34:1680 |