Aug

22

2021

Giant Platelets

By William Aird

Giant platelet (boxed area) from a 33-year-old woman with immune thrombocytopenia who was previously splenectomized. Inset shows the relative size of the giant platelet and neighboring red cells at higher magnification. Red cell depicted by the * may contain a slightly out-of-focus Howell Jolly body (100x, oil).

Giant platelet (in boxed area) from a 65-year-old man with immune thrombocytopenia. Inset shows the relative size of the giant platelet and neighboring red cells at higher magnification. N, folded band neutrophil, or segmented neutrophil with hidden filament between 2 lobes; P, platelet (100x, oil).
ParameterProperties
PlateletGiant platelet
DefinitionMost platelets are 1.5-3 μm in diameter. Small platelets are less than 1.5 μm in diameter. Large platelets usually range from 4 to 7 μm. Giant platelets are larger than 7 μm and usually 10-20 μm in diameter. Platelets that are larger than the average normocytic red cell in the field qualify as giant platelets.
Conditions associated with the cell typeSeen in many different reactive, neoplastic, and inherited conditions including myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, in association with severe leukemoid reactions, and in a subset of inherited thrombocytopenia such as May-Hegglin anomaly and Bernard-Soulier syndrome.
Source/authorWilliam Aird
Reviewed and edited byParul Bhargava
ReferencesColor Atlas of Hematology, CAP1

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