Pappenheimer bodies

Dense, blue-purple granules of iron found in the periphery of the cytoplasm of an RBC. Most commonly, they are associated with splenectomy, either surgical or as a complication of sickle cell anemia. They also can be seen in smears from patients with sideroblastic anemia, and hemolytic anemias. In contrast to Howell-Jolly (HJ) bodies that are a single, very round red cell inclusions, Pappenheimer bodies are smaller, more irregular in outline, and often are multiple per red cell.