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Primary Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissue ›› Bone Marrow ›› Lymphoid ›› T-cells ›› Abnormal

Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)

Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Additional Image 1: Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Additional image 1: Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Additional Image 2: Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Additional image 2: Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Additional Image 3: Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)
Additional image 3: Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL)

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:

Large Granular Lymphocyte (LGL) cartoon
Click and dragRed blood cell for scalefor 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