Red Blood Cell (RBC):- Part 5 – Summary of RBC Morphology Interpretations and Diagnosis (Table)

Table of Contents

Summary of RBC Morphology Interpretations

RBC morphology	Lab findings	Causes
Microcytosis Microcytic hypochromic RBC	RBC diameter <6 µm MCV < 80 fL MCHC < 27%	Iron deficiency anemia Anemia due to chronic diseases Thalassemia
Macrocytosis	RBC diameter > 8 µm	Megaloblastic anemia
Hypochromic Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Anemia hypochromic microcytic	RBC has a central pallor area	Decreased Hb contents Iron deficiency anemia
Poikilocytosis RBC poikilocytosis	RBC has variable shapes	Sickle cell anemia Leukemias Microangiopathic hemolysis Extramedullary hematopoiesis
Anisocytosis RBC Anicytosis	RBC has a variable size	Reticulocytosis Blood transfusion into microcytic or macrocytic anemia
Spherocytosis RBC spherocytes	RBC has no biconcavity RBC has no central pallor MCHC is high	Hereditary spherocytosis Loss of cell membrane relative to cell volume
Acanthocytosis Peripheral blood smear: RBC acanthocyte cells	RBC has spiculated surface	Liver diseases Abetalipoproteinemia
Elliptocytosis Peripheral blood smear: RBC Elliptocytes	RBCs are an oval	Hereditary defect This is usually harmless