Ab= antibody
aCML= atypical chronic myeloid leukaemia
Ag= antigen
AIDS= acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AITL= angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
ALCL= anaplastic large cell lymphoma
ALL= acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
AML= acute myeloid leukaemia
AST= aspartate transaminase
ATL= adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma
Β2m= β2-microglobulin
Ca= carcinoma
CML= chronic myeloid leukaemia
CMML= chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia
CMV= cytomegalovirus
CNS= central nervous system
CPK=creatine phosphokinase
CRP= C-reactive protein
CSF= cerebrospinal fluid
CT= computed tomography
CTCL= cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
CVA= cerebrovascular accident
Ddx= differential diagnosis
DIC= disseminated intravascular coagulation
DLBCL= diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
DNA= deoxyribonucleic acid
DVT= deep venous thrombosis
EBV= Epstein–Barr virus
ELISA= enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ESR= erythrocyte sedimentation rate
FBC= full blood count
FISH= fluorescence in-situ hybridisation
G6PD= glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
GI= gastrointestinal
GPI= glycosylphosphatidylinositol
Hb= haemoglobin concentration
Hb H= haemoglobinopathy H
Hb CC= haemoglobinopathy C
Hb SC= haemoglobinopathy SC
HHV-6= human herpesvirus 6
HIV= human immunodeficiency virus
HTLV-1= human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1
ICU= intensive care unit
LDH= lactate dehydrogenase
LFTs= liver function tests
L-HES= lymphocytic variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome
MCH= Mean cell haemoglobin
MCHC= Mean cell haemoglobin concentration
MCV= mean cell volume
MDS= myelodysplastic syndrome(s)
MDS/MPNs= myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms
Μ-HES= myeloid variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome
MPN= myeloproliferative neoplasm(s)
MPV= mean platelet volume
PCR= polymerase chain reaction
PLT= platelet count
PNH= paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
PTCL= peripheral T-cell lymphoma
RBC= red blood cell
RDW= red-cell distribution width
ΤCR= T-cell receptor
Th1= helper T-cell 1
Th2= helper T-cell 2
TIBC= total iron-binding capacity
T-PLL= T-lineage prolymphocytic leukaemia
ULN= upper normal limit
US= ultrasound
WBC= white blood cell count
WHO= World Health Organization
Note to the reader
Unless otherwise stated, all photomicrographs have been stained with a May-Grunwald-Giemsa stain.
Cover image: blood film of a patient with severe sickle-cell crisis.