Howell-Jolly body

Etiology

• they occur more frequently, & in greater numbers after splenectomy
• myelodysplastic syndrome

Structure

• spherical or ovoid, eccentrically located granules, ~1 uM in diameter

Clinical significance

• occasionally observed in stroma of circulating erythrocytes
• probably represent nuclear remnants
• significance is unknown

More general terms

• abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)