title: Blast-like cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of young infants: further characterization of clinical setting, morphology and origin.
abstract: Blast-like cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of neonates have been identified and previously suggested to be of germinal matrix origin. Twelve additional CSF specimens with blast-like cells collected at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, between 1985-1992 were analyzed. The cytological features of the blast-like cells as well as their associated clinical setting were further characterized by the authors. All patients in the study were young infants with hydrocephalus and nearly all underwent placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt at the time the CSF specimen was collected. In addition, a cytologic preparation of germinal matrix cells obtained from an autopsy specimen was analyzed, which closely resembled the blast-like cells. These data provide additional evidence that blast-like cells originate from the germinal matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jaffey
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: DeMay
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: McLucas
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002498:Centrifugation; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000473:pathology