HematologyOutlines - Atlas
Blood/Blood Cells and Cellular Components ›› Red Blood Cells ›› Abnormal

Teardrop Cell*


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Additional Image 1

› Microscopic Features:
  • About the same size as a normal RBC
  • RBC is Teardrop or pear-shaped
› Normal % blood-PB, marrow-BM, lymphoid tissue-LN:
  • PB: None
  • BM: None
  • LN: None
› May Resemble:
  • Normal Mature RBC
  • Ovalocyte (elliptocyte)
  • Schistocyte
  • Sickle cell
› Differential Diagnoses:

Increased in:
Myelofibrosis
Bone marrow infiltration by hematologic or non-hematologic malignancy
Artifact of slide preparation (in which all the tails usually point in the same direction)

› Classic Immunophenotype:
  • N/A
› Cartoon Image:



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RBC
for direct comparison

› Misc:
  • Increased number of tear drop RBCs is a clue to a possible underlying marrow process