Intermediate
Technical
IVT
lymphoblast
Pronunciation: LIM-foh-blast
An immature lymphoid cell that is the defining cell type in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Full Definition
A lymphoblast is an immature, undifferentiated lymphoid cell that has undergone malignant transformation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These cells are characterized by their large nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, prominent nucleoli, and fine chromatin pattern. Lymphoblasts are distinguished from myeloblasts by their morphology and immunophenotypic markers, and their percentage in bone marrow or peripheral blood determines the diagnosis of ALL.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify lineage (B-cell or T-cell) when describing lymphoblasts in diagnostic contexts.
In Context
- "The bone marrow showed 85% lymphoblasts with L1 morphology." — Pathology report
- "Flow cytometry confirmed the lymphoblasts were of B-cell lineage." — Diagnostic report
Also known as
immature lymphoid cell
Contrasted with
mature lymphocyte
Don't confuse with
myeloblast
lymphocyte