From the Research
When describing the amount of background hemorrhage in a microscopic description of a fluid slide, I recommend using a semi-quantitative approach with standardized terminology. Start by characterizing the hemorrhage as minimal, mild, moderate, or marked (severe) 1. Then provide specific details about the distribution of red blood cells, such as "diffusely scattered," "focally concentrated," or "patchy" 2. Include an estimated count of red blood cells per high-power field (HPF) when possible, as this adds objective data to your description 3. For example, "moderate background hemorrhage with approximately 15-20 RBCs per HPF" or "marked hemorrhage with sheets of RBCs obscuring other cellular elements" 4. Also note whether the red blood cells appear fresh (intact) or lysed, as this can indicate the timing of the hemorrhage 5. This standardized approach to describing hemorrhage ensures consistency across reports and helps clinicians accurately interpret the significance of the finding in relation to the patient's clinical presentation and suspected diagnosis. Some key points to consider when describing background hemorrhage include:
- Characterizing the severity of the hemorrhage
- Describing the distribution of red blood cells
- Including an estimated count of red blood cells per HPF
- Noting the appearance of the red blood cells (fresh or lysed) By following this approach, clinicians can provide accurate and consistent descriptions of background hemorrhage, which can inform patient care and management decisions 1.