Low power: DQ stain
Lymphocytes and monocytes (usually 2:1 ratio)
Normal component of CSF
Low power: Pap stain
Lymphocytes and monocytes (usually 2:1 ratio)
Normal component of CSF
High power: DQ stain
Lymphocyte with round nucleus and scant cytoplasm
Normal component of CSF
High power: DQ stain
Monocyte with kidney-bean shaped nucleus and vacuolated cytoplasm
Normal component of CSF
Low power: Pap stain
Numerous polymorphous lymphocytes, favors reactive process
Usually associated with infections, multiple sclerosis, or therapy-related
High power: Pap stain
Numerous polymorphous lymphocytes, favors reactive process
Background shows neutrophils from contaminating peripheral blood
Features
• Lymphocytes and Monocytes (2:1 ratio)
• Low cellularity (<5 cells/ul)
• May be acellular
• Typically clean
• May be contaminated by peripheral blood
• May have macrophages, eosinophils, giant cell
• Rarely choroid/ependymal cells
• Rarely neurons
• Rarely chondrocytes