Howell-Jolly bodies are remnants of DNA in the cytoplasm of erythrocytes which are normally removed by the spleen.
They are round, usually about 0.5 micrometer in diameter, and purple-staining using Wright’s stain. Typically there is only one in a cell although there may be multiple.
Below is a diagrammatic representation of the appearance of Howell-Jolly bodies:
The presence of Howell-Jolly bodies suggests:
- Splenectomy
- Hyposplenism
- Rarely megaloblastic anaemia
Differentials for inclusions within the cytoplasm of an erythrocyte include:
- Basophilic stippling
- Pappenheimer bodies
- Malaria parasites
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