Peripheral blood smear in beta thalassemia intermedia

Peripheral smear from a patient with beta thalassemia intermedia postsplenectomy. This field shows target cells, hypochromic cells, microcytic cells, red cell fragments, red cells with bizarre shapes, and a single nucleated red cell (arrow).

High-power view of a normal peripheral blood smear. Several platelets (arrowheads) and a normal lymphocyte (arrow) can also be seen. The red cells are of relatively uniform size and shape. The diameter of the normal red cell should approximate that of the nucleus of the small lymphocyte; central pallor (dashed arrow) should equal one-third of its diameter.