Polychromasia (cytology)

Polychromasia refers to the phenomenon of different dyeability of cells with different dyes for microscopic examination.

While normal erythrocytes, for example , can only be stained with acidic dyes ( eosin ), polychromatic erythrocytes ("polychromatocytes") can also be stained with basic dyes ( methylene blue ). Polychromasia is seen as a cell characteristic identical to basophilic stippling of erythrocytes or the appearance of the substantia reticulofilamentosa . It is part of the haematological diagnosis. The polychromasia of erythrocytes occurs in certain diseases such as pernicious or other forms of anemia , which are associated with a hemoglobin formation disorder or a change in the formation of red blood cells .

The polychromatism in cells of other tissues occurs in the context of a pathological destruction of the cell nucleus or in tumor cells . Since this form of polychromatism can be observed with azure dyes , this form is also called azurophilic polychromatism .

source

• F. Heckner, M. Freund: Practical course in microscopic hematology . Elsevier Germany, 2001, ISBN 3-437-45038-7 , pp. 12-13 (books.google.de)
• M. Eder, P. Gedigk: Textbook of general pathology and pathological anatomy. 32nd edition. Berlin / Heidelberg / New York 1986, p. 249.
• G. Grabner, G. Geyer: Internal medicine . Vol. 1, Maudrich, Vienna / Munich / Bern 1991, p. 4.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !