Poikilocytosis Review Table

Cell Type Image Cellular Description Associated Diseases and

Conditions

Teardrop cell  Red blood cells  Myelofibrosis with myeloid

(RBCs) are metaplasia (MMM)
shaped like a
teardrop with a
projection
extending from
one end.

Spherocyte  RBCs smaller than  Hereditary spherocytosis

normal  Certain hemolytic anemias
 No central pallor  Severe burns
 Round rather
than disc-shaped

Target cell  RBCs with  Hemoglobinopathies

characteristic  Certain thalassemias
bull's-eye  Iron deficiency anemia
morphology due  Splenectomy
to hemoglobin
distribution.

Sickle cell  RBCs contain  Sickle cell anemia

hemoglobin S.
 Thorn or crescent-
shaped
Stomatocyte  RBCs with thin,  Hereditary stomatocytosis
elongated area  Alcohol-related disease
of central pallor  Liver disease
(slit-like, or  Rh null phenotype
coffee-bean-  Artifact
shaped on
peripheral blood
smears).
 Three-
dimensionally,
RBCs are cup-
shaped.

Schistocyte  RBC blood cell  Severe burns

fragments or  Hemolytic uremic
pieces syndrome
 Vary widely in size  Microangiopathic
and shape hemolytic anemia (MAHA)
 Disseminated intravascular
coagulation (DIC)
 Thrombotic
thrombocytopenic purpura
(TTP)

Ovalocyte  RBCs are  Hereditary elliptocytosis

(elliptocyte) elongated-oval,  Megaloblastic anemia
cigar, or pencil-  Myelophthisic anemia
shaped  Certain thalassemias
 Severe iron deficiency

Acanthocyte  RBCs  Abetalipoproteinemia

(Spur cell) demonstrating  Severe hepatic disease
irregularly-  Myeloproliferative disorders
spaced, spiny  MAHA
projections that  Neuroacanthocytosis
vary in size and  syndromes
number
 No central pallor

.
Echinocyte  RBCs have short  Uremia
(Burr cell) and evenly-  Heart disease
spaced, rounded  Pyruvate kinase deficiency
projections  Stomach cancers
surrounding the  Bleeding peptic ulcers
cell
 Central pallor
present