Definition

1. Adjective: Of or relating to lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is a fundamental part of the body's immune system.

Usage

• The adjective lymphocytic is used primarily in medical and biological contexts to describe conditions, diseases, or characteristics associated with lymphocytes.
• It typically modifies nouns related to diseases, infiltrates, or reactions.
• Example: The biopsy showed a lymphocytic infiltrate in the tissue, indicating an immune response.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer that originates in the bone marrow and involves an overproduction of lymphocytes.
  • The patient was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic inflammation.
  • A lymphocytic reaction is often seen in response to viral infections.

Advanced Usage

• "Lymphocytic predominance": A term used in pathology reports to indicate that lymphocytes are the most numerous cell type present in a sample.

  • The histology report noted lymphocytic predominance in the synovial fluid.

• "Lymphocytic choriomeningitis": A specific viral infectious disease caused by the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).

  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is a rodent-borne viral disease.

Variants and Related Words

• Lymphocyte (noun): The type of white blood cell itself.

  • T cells and B cells are the two main classes of lymphocytes.

• Lymphocytosis (noun): An increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood.

  • The blood test revealed lymphocytosis, suggesting a possible infection.

Synonyms

• Lymphoid (adj): Pertaining to lymphocytes or to the lymphatic system in a broader sense. While closely related, "lymphoid" can refer to tissues and organs (e.g., lymph nodes) as well as cells.
  • The tonsils are lymphoid tissue.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Lymphocytic leukemia: A type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
• Lymphocytic lymphoma: A general term for cancers of the lymphocytes that typically start in lymph nodes or other lymphatic tissues.
• Lymphocytic pleocytosis: An increased number of lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Adjective

1. of or relating to lymphocytes
   • lymphocytic leukemia