Blood/Blood Cells and Cellular Components ›› Lymphocytes ›› Abnormal

Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)*


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› Microscopic Features:

• 2-4x larger than a mature RBC
• Low nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio because of the increased cytoplasm
• Round-to-convoluted nuclear border with mature chromatin (clumped chromatin)
• Nucleoli are absent
• Cytoplasm is abundant, light blue
• Pink/red granules in the cytoplasm (hence the term "granular")

› Normal % blood-PB, marrow-BM, lymphoid tissue-LN:

• PB: Rare to None
• BM: None
• LN: None

› May Resemble:

• Reactive lymphocyte [Compare]
• Monocyte [Compare]
• Promyelocyte [Compare]

› Differential Diagnoses:

If increased in blood or bone marrow: Infection Neoplastic (LGL leukemia)

› Classic Immunophenotype:

• CD2+
• CD3+
• CD4-
• CD8+
• CD5+
• CD7+
• CD56+

› Cartoon Image:


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› Misc:

• Must rule out reactive conditions (e.g. infection, etc.) before considering LGL leukemia as a diagnosis