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Primary Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissue ›› Bone Marrow ›› Myeloid ›› Granulocytes & Precursors ›› Neutrophilic ›› Normal

Myelocyte

Myelocyte
Myelocyte
Myelocyte
Additional Image 1: Myelocyte
Additional image 1: Myelocyte

Microscopic Features:

  • 2-3x larger than a mature RBC
  • Intermediate nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio (more cytoplasm than promyelocyte)
  • Eccentrically placed oval Nucleus (no nuclear indentation) with more mature chromatin (clumped)
  • Perinuclear clearing is common
  • Nucleoli are absent (Note: absent nucleoli from this stage onward)
  • More cytoplasm with only rare or absent primary (azurophilic) granules
  • Secondary (specific) granules of neutrophilic (lilac), eosinophilic (red-orange), or basophilic (blue) color are present based on precursor type

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

  • PB: None
  • BM: Scattered (~10%)
  • LN: None

May Resemble:

Differential Diagnoses:

If in blood or increased numbers in bone marrow:
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Leukemoid reaction
Post-GCSF therapy
Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia

Classic Immunophenotype:

  • CD34-
  • CD117-
  • HLA-DR-
  • CD13+
  • CD33+
  • CD15+
  • CD11b+/-
  • CD16-

Cartoon Image:

Myelocyte cartoon
Click and dragRed blood cell for scalefor direct comparison

Misc:

Myelocyte bulge (increased myelocytes) is commonly noted in CML patients