title: Comparative electron-microscopic study of the erythrocytic line in refractory anemia (preleukemia) and myelomonocytic leukemia.
abstract: The bone marrow erythrocytic precursors of 12 patients with refractory anemia (preleukemia) or myelomonocytic leukemia were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The results were tabulated in a semiquantitative manner and a comparison was established between the two main diagnostic groups. The following results are reported. 1. Similar nuclear and cytoplasmic abnormalities of the normoblasts were observed in preleukemia and leukemia. 2. A nuclear lesion consisting of nuclear clefts and blebs was demonstrated in at least some of the normoblasts in all of the patients. Although not specific, this finding appears to be a new contribution in the field of preleukemia and myelomonocytic leukemia. 3. Iron overload, including the presence of pathologic sideroblasts, is common to both preleukemia and leukemia.
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011289:Preleukemia / Q000473:pathology*