Arte?-Fact? - Rare cells - Calendar 2007 month 9

Author(s): H. Diem (1), R. Hinzmann (2)
Institution(s): (1) Würmtal-Labor, 82131 Gauting; (2) Sysmex Europe GmbH, Norderstedt - Germany
References: The Sysmex Scientific Calendar 2007
Photos and text: Heinz Diem, MD; text: Rolf Hinzmann, MD, PhD
Last change of this image collection: 2007/01/01

Everyone who performs microscopy daily will find cells which cannot be classified immediately. There is a helpful truism: Common things are common and rare things are rare. However, rare diseases do exist and must not be initially excluded.

At low magnification, a drop of sputum is easily detected. When enlarged considerably, it might cause confusion.

It is extremely rare that cancerous cells leak into the peripheral blood. Here, the cells from a breast carcinoma are visible on the blood film.

The endothelial cells are part of the vascular wall which was damaged during venipuncture. (Blood coagulation was activated during the process: On the bottom left a fibrin fibre can be recognised.)

Malignant melanoma cells have leaked into the peripheral blood (edge of the blood film).