Scanning electron microscopic study of leukemic human B lymphocytes

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma, centrocytic lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In general, SEM revealed rather homogenous cell populations. Most lymphocytes displayed a moderately villous surface architecture, although smooth surfaces predominated in 3 cases with CLL and in 1 case with lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma. Hairy cells showed surface features of both lymphocytes and monocytes. The results indicate that leukemic B and T lymphocytes cannot be distinguished by SEM alone.