Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 19

Describe the morphologic characteristics of mesothelial cells and malignant cells.

Step 1 of 2

Morphological characteristics of Mesothelial cells:

Mesothelial cells seen in pleural fluid are often pleomorphic. They resemble lymphocytes, malignant cells, and plasma which make it difficult to identify.

Morphological characteristics:

• They appear small or large round cells with more blue cytoplasm

• Normal mesothelial cell appears to be in round nuclei with uniform dark purple cytoplasm

• Reactive mesothelial cell appears to be in clusters with eccentric nuclei, varied amount of cytoplasm, multinucleated and prominent nucleoli