Pediatric Hematology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
central line-associated bloodstream infection
A serious complication in immunocompromised pediatric hematology patients with central venous catheters. Often abbreviated as CLABSI.
MRD
Minimal residual disease. The small number of leukemic cells that may remain after treatment and are undetectable by con...
myelodysplastic syndrome
Clonal bone marrow disorder characterized by dysplastic cell development and increased risk of leukemic transformation.
neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia
A condition where maternal antibodies against fetal platelet antigens cause severe thrombocytopenia in newborns.
neutropenia
Abnormally low neutrophil count that increases infection risk and may be congenital or acquired.
osmotic fragility test
Laboratory test measuring red blood cell resistance to hemolysis in hypotonic solutions, used to diagnose spherocytosis.
pancytopenia
Dangerous reduction in all three major blood cell types: red cells, white cells, and platelets.
parvovirus B19
Viral infection that can cause transient aplastic crisis in children with underlying hemolytic disorders.
petechiae
Small, pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin caused by bleeding from capillaries, often indicating thrombocytopenia i...
Philadelphia chromosome
An abnormal chromosome 22 resulting from t(9;22) translocation, creating the BCR-ABL fusion gene. Found in some pediatri...
polycythemia vera
A rare myeloproliferative disorder characterized by increased red blood cell production, occasionally seen in adolescent...
porphyria
Group of rare metabolic disorders affecting heme biosynthesis, causing accumulation of porphyrin precursors and varied c...
priapism
Prolonged, painful penile erection unrelated to sexual stimulation, a urological emergency commonly seen in boys with si...
prophylactic penicillin
Preventive antibiotic therapy administered to children with sickle cell disease or asplenia to reduce the risk of pneumo...
pyruvate kinase deficiency
An inherited enzyme deficiency causing chronic hemolytic anemia due to impaired red blood cell energy metabolism.
reticulocyte count
Laboratory test measuring young red blood cells to assess bone marrow function in children.
sickling
Process by which red blood cells containing hemoglobin S deform into rigid, crescent shapes under deoxygenated condition...
spherocytosis
Condition where red blood cells lose their biconcave shape and become spherical, often hereditary.
splenomegaly
Enlarged spleen commonly seen in pediatric blood disorders requiring careful monitoring.
target cells
Red blood cells with a characteristic bull's-eye appearance on blood smear, commonly seen in hemoglobinopathies and live...
thalassemia major
Severe inherited hemoglobin disorder requiring regular blood transfusions, also known as Cooley's anemia.
thrombocytopenia
Low platelet count in children that increases bleeding risk and may require treatment.
transcranial Doppler
Non-invasive ultrasound technique used to measure blood flow velocity in cerebral arteries for stroke risk assessment in...
transient abnormal myelopoiesis
A pre-leukemic condition occurring in newborns with Down syndrome, characterized by abnormal blast cells that typically...
transient erythroblastopenia of childhood
A temporary condition in young children characterized by severe anemia due to decreased red blood cell production that t...