| Re: Does anyone know what they mean by atypical cells?
Where did they find the atypical cells? Under a microscope? This term is used when they examine the blood sample under a microscope and see a cell that does not look like it should. There are different types of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, neutrophils and eosinophils. If under examination, the cell structure does to look like any of the above cells, they lable it as atypical.
Now, please understand, that this means the doctor cannot identify this cell by just by viewing it. He may want further and more detailed testing on the cell to RULE OUT leukemia. The cell may not be presenting itself as a blasts (leukemic cell) but it is also not presenting itself as a normal white blood cell. The further testing that he may want to have is done by a Bone Marrow Biospy, where they take a sample of the bone marrow and send it out for Cytogentic Testing and a F.I.S.H. test. This is where they will look specifically at the DNA make up of the cell and determine if any chromosonal changes have taken place.
As you may recall, I have a daughter who has undergone a transplant for relapsed AML. When she had her 3 month post transplant Bone Marrow test completed, the doctor came in after he had reviewed her sample under the microscope. He could NOT tell us at that time if her marrow was *clean* due to there were some atypical cells present, more detailed testing needed to be completed. THE TEST CAME BACK NORMAL. The atypical cells were caused by a medication she was on. Also, once she was at a clinic appointment and under the microscope once again some atypical cells were found. They were just some lymphocytes that were *chewed up* from fighting an infection.
The doctor is just trying to be complete in his diagnosis. He in all good conscience say that these cells are normal, and may want further testing. If it was definately a blast, they say it's a blast.
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