Blood, 1954, Vol. 9, No. 10, pp. 977-985.
© 1954 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
An Unidentified Reticuloendothelial Cell in Bone
Marrow and Spleen
Report of Two Cases with Histochemical Studies
ARTHUR SAWITSKY 1,
GEORGE A. HYMAN 1, and
JULIAN B. HYMAN 1
1 Departments of Medicine and Pathology of the Queens General Hospital,
Jamaica, N. Y., and the Medical Service of the Presbyterian Hospital, New York, N. Y.
1. A cell is described in the bone marrow aspirates of two patients which has
not previously been fully described. This is a large reticuloendothelial-like cell
filled with blue-staining granules. This cell has been found in successive bone
marrow films aspirated from sternum and iliac crest.
2. These cells were also found in a splenic aspiration from one of the patients
and were compared to similar cells from a case summarized by Möschlin.
3. The case reports show striking clinical similarities in the two patients, i.e.
hepatosplenomegaly in relatively symptom-free individuals. This suggests that
a common syndrome is present.
4. Differential histochemical studies of the granular material in the cytoplasm
are reported.
5. The significance and function of these unusual cells in the marrow is unknown.
Submitted on November 23, 1953
Accepted on March 1, 1954
