How did you tell acute from chronic inflammation under low power?

[leewa]

I am a new resident, when I sign out with the attendings, I found they call acute or chronic or both very quickly after they had a quick peek at the slide under low power. i wonder how they tell ploys from lymphcytes without carefully check them. To me under the low power they all look small blue dots...

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[Gene_]

At low power, PMNs are not small blue dots. Lymphocytes are. You'll figure it out with a little more experience.

 

[Atripos]

PMNs look like ants. Lymphocytes look like dots.

 

[yaah]

Once you see it a few times you will figure it out. When it's mostly lymphs, it's more blue than when it's mostly polys. But like I said, you'll just figure it out once you see it a few times.