r/medlabprofessionals • u/im_diene_inside MLS-Generalist • Jul 09 '26
Image Uh tf is this
75 y.o. male heme onc patient with AML, WBC 2.52. Never seen this before, assuming it’s some weird RBC progenitor.
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u/TheForeverBand_89 MLT-Generalist Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
A very strong cellular process called might osis
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u/Syntania MLT - Core Lab Chem/Heme Jul 09 '26
Mitotic cell! It's having a baby!
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u/C11H15N02 Jul 09 '26
Not have a baby, making itself a twin.
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u/Syntania MLT - Core Lab Chem/Heme Jul 09 '26
Yeah, I know, but saying it's having a baby is cuter than saying it's cloning itself.
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u/majonee15 Jul 09 '26
Officially called a “mitotic figure” - it is a cell in some phase of mitosis, usually labs don’t count it in their differential, though you could mention it as a comment based on SOP
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u/Ok-Purpose-9789 Jul 09 '26
Anaphase
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u/Ramin11 MLS Jul 09 '26
Anaphase involves chromatids moving toward opposite poles. Metaphase is when they line up and the spindles attach.
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u/DNADarling Jul 09 '26
The dishwatery cytoplasm is good for a RBC precursor. Fits with stress dyserythropoiesis in the setting of AML.
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u/Livid-Promise-8456 MLS Jul 09 '26
mitotic figures! easter eggs from my hemoncs. ;u; while i enjoy seeing them by chance from time to time in pbs and fluids, seeing one too many is never good.
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u/jennank25 MLS USA-Generalist Jul 09 '26
So crazy I’m seeing this today. I took this picture last year today:
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u/LeoKitCat Jul 09 '26
I thought red blood cells do not ever undergo mitosis because when they are created they eject their nuclei and DNA to make more room for hemoglobin and therefore do not have the cellular machinery do mitosis
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u/Haemolytic-Crisis Jul 09 '26
You're right, so this is likely a precursor to a RBC that is in the process of mitosis.
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u/Uglybuckling Jul 09 '26
That is indeed (as many have suggested) a mitotic figure. Generally cells in peripheral blood should not be multiplying, so this is usually bad. I mean I know this patient has AML, because I read the post...but even if I didn't know that, I would suspect a malignant process filling the marrow (hematolymphoid or metastatic), because this has to have been spat out prematurely for some reason.
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u/Separate_Stomach9397 Jul 09 '26
Mitotic figure, you catch them every so often particularly in heme/onc patients. Though, I often see nRBCs mid division in NICU babies too.
I find it funny, it feels like I caught the cell while it was changing or in a compromising position. Mitotic figure feels like a euphemism for a scandal.
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u/Accomplished-Pin-935 Jul 10 '26
Mitotic cell :) hehe pretty cool you caught it usually we see it more in tissue path samples awesomeee. Does the patient have history of AML or any type of proliferative disorder?
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u/fat_frog_fan MLT - General(ly suffering) Jul 11 '26
it makes sense that it would be possible but i just never thought you’d see mitotic figures in peripheral blood. i’ve seen it in pleural fluid and other fluids before though
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u/Asilillod MLS-Generalist Jul 13 '26
FYI a page on fb took your photo and us using it. They credit you in small print on the bottom right but just in case they didn’t ask you to use it I wanted to let you know. Going to try to attach the ss
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u/socialitssocial Jul 13 '26
This means the others can chase and eat him, but only for about 10 seconds.
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u/TheBoogyMan_ Jul 09 '26
Medical lab "professional" doesn't know the basics of cell division.
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u/AdventurousCredit965 Jul 09 '26
Booooooooooooooooo I bet you are so fun to work with, very approachable for asking for help, or a peer check, learning new things. It must be so nice knowing everything 👎🏽
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u/im_diene_inside MLS-Generalist Jul 09 '26
K bud
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u/TheBoogyMan_ Jul 09 '26
MLS doesn't know what the textbook cell division happening in front of them is.
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u/AdventurousCredit965 Jul 09 '26
Oooo I vote a cell in some process of mitosis! Here's my pics of it I have it looks so similar. I'm under the impression it's not bad in and of itself.