Introduction

Introduction Aims of the atlas Background The contribution of cultures in modern hematology Limitations of precursor cell cultures Culture techniques Laboratory equipment and materials Culture media Cell suspensions Optimal number of cells in culture Plating and incubation Reading of cultures Normality and abnormality in culture Normal colonies W CFU-G: Neutrophil granulocyte colonies W CFU-M and CFU-GM: Macrophage and granulocyte-macrophage col onies W CFU-Eo: Eosinophil colonies W BFU-E and CFU-E: Large and small erythroid colonies W CFU-GEMM: Mixed colonies containing neutrophil granulocytes, erythroblasts, macrophages and megakaryocytes W CFU Eo/Ec: Colonies containing eosinophils and erythroblast s W Normal colony numbers, PB:BM ratio and E:M ratio Deviations from normality W Grossly reduced colony growth W Strongly increased colony growth - with normal PB:BM ratio - with high PB:BM ratio W Low erythroid:myeloid (E:M) ratio W Increased CFU-M W Increased CFU-Eo W Increased CFU-GEMM and CFU-Eo/Ec W Deficient hemoglobinization W Erythropoetin-independent BFU-E W Abnormally small colonies W Dendritic cell (DC) - like clusters W Agglutinated red cells and platelets W Scattered macrophages W Non-cellular artefacts W Infectious contaminations W Lack of incubator humidity Contribution of cultures to clinical hematology Differential diagnosis of cytopenic disorders W Guideline from culture observation to diagnosis W Aplastic anemia W Myelodysplastic syndrome W Acute myeloid leukemia W Vitamin B12/folate deficiency W Agranulocytosis W Immune thrombocytopenia W Pure red cell aplasia W Severe Graft-versus-Host Disease Differential diagnosis of hyperproliferative disorders W Neutrophilia, polycythemia, thrombocytosis - Guide from culture observation to diagnosis - Polycythemia vera and essential - thrombocythemia - Idiopathic myelofibrosis - Chronic myeloid leukemia - Gleevec[registered] effects W Eosinophilia - Guide from culture observation to diagnosis - Reactive eosinophilia and hypereosinophilic - syndrome W Monocytosis - Guide from culture observation to diagnosis - Reactive monocytosis and chronic myelo- - monocytic leukemia Subject Index