Peculiar ultrastructure in an acute monocytic leukaemia
Martín Noya, A.; Digón, J.S.; Parody, R.
Sangre 25(6): 1105-1110
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-4355 PMID: 6939138 Document Number: 166679
A patient with acute monocytic leukemia presented 2 cell populations in the ultrastructural study, showing different electron density. Such cells were, respectively, termed clear and dark. This phenomenon is extremely rare in the leukemias. Although it has been reported in solid tumors, the literature does not explain the incidence of this finding in the leukemias. Several possible explanations are given, including staining artifacts, changes in the permeability of cell-surface components which could impede the penetrance of uranyl ions, the lack of relationship with cytotoxic drugs, cell differentiation or necrotic phenomena. The true significance of this finding remains unknown.