Features

Notes

• Lymphocytes are characteristic of chronic inflammation
• Defined by increased number of lymphocytes
• Causes include:
- infection (viral)
- inflammation
- trauma
- prior tap
- surgery
- multiple sclerosis
- reactive to neoplasm
• May require flow cytometry or immunocytochemistry to differentiate from malignant lymphoma

Cellular features

• Increased numbers of small, mature lymphocytes
• May have reactive changes with larger lymphocytes
• May have plasma cells

Background

• May have monocytes/macrophages