Primary Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissue ›› Bone Marrow ›› Abnormal

Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)*


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Microscopic Features:
  • 2-3x larger than a mature RBC
  • Low nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio but with
  • Round mature Nucleus (clumped chromatin)
  • Nucleoli are absent
  • Cytoplasm is abundant, light blue
  • Pink/red granules in the cytoplasm
Normal % blood-PB, marrow-BM, lymphoid tissue-LN:
  • PB: Rare to None
  • BM: Rare to None
  • LN: None
May Resemble: Differential Diagnoses:

If increased in blood or bone marrow:
Infection
Neoplastic (specifically LGL leukemia)
Drug-induced
Autoimmune disorders

Classic Immunophenotype:
  • CD2+
  • CD3+
  • CD8+
  • CD5+
  • CD7+
  • CD56+
Cartoon Image:



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RBC
for direct comparison

Misc:
  • Must rule out reactive conditions (e.g. infection, etc.) before considering LGL leukemia as a diagnosis. LGL leukemias will also show a clonal T-cell population through TCR gene rearrangement studies



Content Editors/Website Administrators:
Hooman H. Rashidi, MD; John C. Nguyen, MD