car·di·ac his·ti·o·cyte

a large mononuclear cell found in connective tissue of the heart wall in inflammatory conditions, especially in the Aschoff body. The ovoid nucleus contains a central chromatin mass appearing as a wavy bar in longitudinal section.

Synonym(s): Anitschkow cell, Anitschkow myocyte, caterpillar cell

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

A cell with an elongated vesicular nucleus, central wavy chromatin and finger-like projections to the nuclear membrane. Caterpillar cells are variants of Anitschkow cardiac histiocytes—‘owl eye’ cells—aggregates of which are termed Aschoff nodules

car·di·ac his·ti·o·cyte

(kahr'dē-ak his'tē-ō-sīt)

A large mononuclear cell found in connective tissue of the heart wall in inflammatory conditions, especially in the Aschoff body.
Synonym(s): Anitschkow cell, Anitschkow myocyte.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Anitschkow,

(Anichkov), Nikolai, Russian pathologist, 1885-1964.

Anitschkow cell - a large mononuclear cell found in connective tissue of the heart wall in inflammatory conditions. Synonym(s): Anitschkow myocyte; cardiac histiocyte

Anitschkow myocyte - Synonym(s): Anitschkow cell

Medical Eponyms © Farlex 2012

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References in periodicals archive

(27) Acute rheumatic heart disease can result in the formation of granulomatous lesions known as Aschoff bodies, which tend to be perivascular in location and may contain enlarged macrophages with nuclear chromatin condensed into a wavy ribbon resembling a caterpillar, that is, Anitschkow cells. (4,27) Utilization of the recently revised Jones criteria can aid in the diagnosis of this entity.

Giant Cell Myocarditis: A Brief Review

Larger mononuclear cells called Anitschkow cells may be seen within the nodule and, on cut section, bear an owl-eye appearance.

Mitral stenosis at autopsy

It is manifested by Aschoff bodies, which are discrete, commonly perivascular, areas of fibrinoid degeneration surrounded by lymphocytes, occasional plasma cells, and plump macrophages with their nuclear chromatin clumped in a wavy ribbon resembling a caterpillar (Anitschkow cells).

Cardiac sarcoidosis a pathology-focused review

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