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What are Smudge Cells? Do they indicate CLL?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: May 12, 2023 | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
Smudge cells are exactly that—cells that were destroyed during the collection or preparing of the blood smear, creating a smudge look on the glass slide. They’re remnants of cells that lack any identifiable cytoplasmic membrane or nuclear structure. They are indicative of weakened cells as normal cells have stronger, defined membranes.
Smudge cells, also called basket cells, are most often associated with abnormally fragile lymphocytes in disorders such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, they can also be seen in viral infections as documented here in an article from pubmed.gov https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33598404/
I also found this site from epainassist.com that gives a good, less technical explanation about Smudge cells https://www.epainassist.com/blood-diseases/smudge-cells
Smudge cells aren’t unique to CLL, though they are seen more commonly and in higher numbers in CLL.
Is this a recent discovery for you? Have you discussed this finding with a hematolgist?
Replies to "Smudge cells are exactly that—cells that were destroyed during the collection or preparing of the blood..."
My moms cbc has been abnormal for about a year and has been back and forth with her PCP. I told her she needed to go see a hematologist, but her PCP said that she should wait because they’re going to give her antibiotics and take care of the situation so now her last CBC, which was the ninth of this much came back with moderate smudge cells before it was few smudge cells but it’s changed to moderate I told her to do a peripheral blood smear and the doctor that I work for recommended. She have a whole bunch of tests done and her PCP didn’t do those but now they’re going to move forward with doing the test that my doctor told me to have her recommend to her PCP. I’m scared that it could be leukemia but she feels like it’s nothing right now her leukocytes is at a 14.7. It’s gone up from a 13.2
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This is new to me, I have to go for another blood test in one week. If they still exist, then I will be referred to the oncologist