title: Red blood cell "ghosts" as look-alikes for infectious organisms. A report of two cases.
abstract: Two cases are reported in which degenerated red blood cells were initially interpreted as representing infectious organisms. The morphology and staining characteristics of the altered red blood cells are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wasdahl
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Goellner
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D016720:Pneumocystis Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000469:parasitology / Q000556:secondary*; D013194:Staining and Labeling