Hematopathology Practice Questions

Q: Which of the following is false regarding echinocytes?

Irregular spicules on RBC surface. **Explanation:** **Echinocytes**, also known as **Burr cells**, are characterized by **regular, short, blunt, and evenly spaced spicules** (projections) across the entire surface of the red blood cell. 1. **Why Option A is the correct (false) statement:** The hallmark of an echinocyte is the **regularity** of its projections. In contrast, **Acanthocytes** (spur cells) possess **irregular**, varying-length, and unevenly spaced spicules. Therefore, stating that echinocytes have "regular spicules" is factually incorrect, making it the right choice for this "false regarding" question. 2. **Why Option B is true:** Echinocytes are classically seen in **uremia** (most common association), but they are also frequently observed in **chronic liver disease**, pyruvate kinase deficiency [1], and as an artifact (glass effect/drying). 3. **Why Options C and D are wrong:** Since Option A is a false statement and Option B is a true statement, these collective options do not apply. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Echinocytes (Burr Cells):** Think **Uremia** and **Regular** projections. They are often reversible. * **Acanthocytes (Spur Cells):** Think **Abetalipoproteinemia** and **Irregular** projections. They are irreversible. * **Mechanism:** Echinocytes form due to expansion of the outer leaflet of the RBC lipid bilayer relative to the inner leaflet. * **Artifact Alert:** If you see echinocytes in every field of a peripheral smear, suspect an artifactual change due to increased pH or storage. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Red Blood Cell and Bleeding Disorders, p. 638.

Question 1

Which of the following is not a myeloproliferative disease?

Accepted Answer

Acute myeloid leukemia

Answer

Polycythemia rubra vera

Answer

Chronic myeloid leukemia

Answer

Essential thrombocytosis

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT associated with massive transfusion?

Accepted Answer

Hypercalcemia

Answer

Hypothermia

Answer

Thrombocytopenia

Answer

DIC

Question 3

In an ablated animal model, myeloid series cells are injected. Which of the following is observed after an incubation period?

Accepted Answer

RBCs

Answer

Fibroblasts

Answer

T lymphocytes

Answer

Hematopoietic stem cells

Question 4

A crisis in a patient with sickle cell disease is most likely to be caused by what condition?

Accepted Answer

Acidosis

Answer

Alkalosis

Answer

Increased oxygen concentration

Answer

Decreased CO2 concentration

Question 5

What pre-surgical test is required for a patient with Vitamin K deficiency?

Accepted Answer

PT time

Answer

Bleeding time

Answer

Clotting time

Answer

Bleeding index

Question 6

Which of the following conditions are associated with both an elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and an elevated prothrombin time (PT)?

Accepted Answer

Severe liver disease

Answer

Factor 13 deficiency

Answer

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Answer

Leiden (Factor V) deficiency

Question 7

A 45-year-old lady presented with a painless neck swelling for 3 months, associated with loss of weight and fever. FNAC of the swelling showed a polymorphous population of lymphocytes, eosinophils, plasma cells, and large binucleate cells with an owl-eye appearance of the nucleus. What is your diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Mixed cellularity

Answer

Nodular sclerosis

Answer

Lymphocyte rich

Answer

Lymphocyte depleted

Question 8

Which of the following does not cause an increase in spleen size in later stages?

Accepted Answer

Sickle cell anaemia

Answer

Cirrhosis

Answer

Infectious mononucleosis

Answer

Hairy cell leukaemia

Question 9

Peripheral blood smear showing spur cells and stomatocytes is suggestive of which condition?

Accepted Answer

Chronic liver disease

Answer

Alcoholic hepatitis

Answer

Chronic kidney disease

Answer

Hemolytic uremic syndrome

Question 10

Which of the following is false regarding echinocytes?

Accepted Answer

Irregular spicules on RBC surface

Answer

Seen in liver disorders

Answer

Both of the above

Answer

None of the above

Hematopathology — MCQs

Hematopathology — MCQs

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