The smears show many atypical lymphoid cells, sometimes called "Türk's irritation cells", and macrophages. This peculiar cell is a lymphoid cell with morphology intermediate between immature lymphocytes and plasma cells, seen in chronic inflammatory/infectious lesions. The older literature on peripheral blood from infectious mononucleosis always mentioned it as "atypical lymphocytes". They should not be confused with myelomatous lesions, or with malignant lymphomas. Repeat spinal tap three months later was entirely normal.