A hypochromic, crescent-shaped erythrocyte, probably resulting from artifactual rupture of a red cell with loss of hemoglobin. SYN: achromacyte, achromatocyte, ghost corpuscle, phantom corpuscle, Ponfick shadow, shadow corpuscle, shadow (3), Traube corpuscle. [G. a- priv. + chroma, color, + kytos, hollow (cell)]
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achro·mo·cyte (ə-kroґmo-sīt) a crescent-shaped red cell artifact that stains more faintly than intact red cells; cf. ghost cell. Called also demilune body and achromic erythrocyte.Medical dictionary. 2011.