smudge cell

smudge cell

Haematology
A term of art for red-purple nuclear debris with clumped chromatin and rounded nucleolar remnants, which corresponds to degenerated lymphocytes of ALL or CLL, and nucleated red cells. 
Liver pathology
An enlarged basophilic hepatocyte, replete with adenovirus particles.
 
Lung pathology
Diffusely basophilic, streaked CMV-infected (or less commonly, adenovirus-infected) alveolar and bronchial cells with indistinct nuclear:cytoplasmic interface due to vacuolisation of nuclear membrane.