Rbc And Wbc

Question 1

What is Microcytosis?

Answer 1

RBCs smaller than normal (<7 µm), often pale (hypochromic). Clinical Term: Microcytic anemia. Associated Conditions: Iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia. Parameter: MCV <80 fL.

Question 2

What is Macrocytosis?

Answer 2

RBCs larger than normal (>8 µm), often normochromic. Clinical Term: Macrocytic anemia. Associated Conditions: Vitamin B12/folate deficiency, liver disease, alcoholism, myelodysplastic syndromes. Parameter: MCV >100 fL.

Question 3

Define Anisocytosis.

Answer 3

Variation in RBC size (mix of microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic). Clinical Term: Anisocytosis. Associated Conditions: Mixed anemias, post-transfusion, bone marrow disorders. Parameter: High RDW.

Question 4

What are Spherocytes?

Answer 4

Spherical RBCs, small, dense, no central pallor. Clinical Term: Spherocytosis. Associated Conditions: Hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, burns.

Question 5

Describe Sickle Cells.

Answer 5

Crescent-shaped RBCs with pointed ends. Clinical Term: Sickle cell anemia. Associated Conditions: Sickle cell disease (HbSS), sickle cell trait.

Question 6

What are Target Cells?

Answer 6

RBCs with bullseye appearance (central hemoglobin surrounded by clear zone). Clinical Term: Target cell formation. Associated Conditions: Liver disease, hemoglobinopathies (e.g., HbC), thalassemia.

Question 7

What are Schistocytes?

Answer 7

Fragmented RBCs with irregular, jagged edges (helmet-shaped). Clinical Term: Schistocytosis. Associated Conditions: Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (DIC, TTP, HUS), mechanical heart valves.

Question 8

Describe Elliptocytes/Ovalocytes.

Answer 8

Oval or cigar-shaped RBCs. Clinical Term: Elliptocytosis. Associated Conditions: Hereditary elliptocytosis, thalassemia, myelofibrosis.

Question 9

What are Acanthocytes?

Answer 9

RBCs with irregular, spiky projections of uneven length. Clinical Term: Acanthocytosis. Associated Conditions: Liver disease, abetalipoproteinemia, post-splenectomy.

Question 10

What are Burr Cells?

Answer 10

RBCs with short, evenly spaced projections. Clinical Term: Echinocytosis. Associated Conditions: Uremia, pyruvate kinase deficiency, slide preparation artifact.

Question 11

Describe Teardrop Cells.

Answer 11

Teardrop-shaped RBCs with a single pointed end. Clinical Term: Dacrocytosis. Associated Conditions: Myelofibrosis, thalassemia, bone marrow infiltration.

Question 12

What is Hypochromasia?

Answer 12

Reduced hemoglobin, increased central pallor (>1/3 of cell). Clinical Term: Hypochromic anemia. Associated Conditions: Iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia. Parameters: Low MCH, MCHC.

Question 13

What is Hyperchromasia?

Answer 13

Increased hemoglobin, no central pallor. Clinical Term: Hyperchromic anemia. Associated Conditions: Spherocytosis, hemolytic anemias. Parameter: High MCHC.

Question 14

What is Polychromasia?

Answer 14

RBCs with bluish-gray tint (residual RNA), often larger (reticulocytes). Clinical Term: Polychromasia. Associated Conditions: Hemolysis, bone marrow stress, post-hemorrhage.

Question 15

What are Howell-Jolly Bodies?

Answer 15

Small, round, basophilic DNA remnants in RBCs. Clinical Term: Howell-Jolly bodies. Associated Conditions: Asplenia, hyposplenism, megaloblastic anemia.

Question 16

Describe Basophilic Stippling.

Answer 16

Multiple small, blue dots (ribosomal RNA) in RBCs. Clinical Term: Basophilic stippling. Associated Conditions: Lead poisoning, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia.

Question 17

What are Pappenheimer Bodies?

Answer 17

Iron-containing granules in RBCs, confirmed with Prussian blue stain. Clinical Term: Pappenheimer bodies. Associated Conditions: Sideroblastic anemia, post-splenectomy, hemoglobinopathies.

Question 18

What are Heinz Bodies?

Answer 18

Denatured hemoglobin aggregates, visible with supravital stains (e.g., crystal violet). Clinical Term: Heinz body anemia. Associated Conditions: G6PD deficiency, oxidative stress, unstable hemoglobins.

Question 19

What are Cabot Rings?

Answer 19

Ring-like or figure-8 structures (mitotic spindle remnants) in RBCs. Clinical Term: Cabot rings. Associated Conditions: Megaloblastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes.

Question 20

What are Malarial Parasites in RBCs?

Answer 20

Protozoan inclusions (e.g., Plasmodium spp.), appearing as rings, trophozoites, or schizonts. Clinical Term: Malarial infection. Associated Conditions: Malaria.

Question 21

What are Hypersegmented Neutrophils?

Answer 21

Neutrophils with >5 nuclear lobes. Clinical Term: Hypersegmentation. Associated Conditions: Megaloblastic anemia (B12/folate deficiency), myelodysplastic syndromes.

Question 22

What is the Pelger-Huët Anomaly?

Answer 22

Neutrophils with bilobed or “pince-nez” nucleus. Clinical Term: Pelger-Huët anomaly (congenital or acquired). Associated Conditions: Congenital (benign), acquired in myelodysplastic syndromes, leukemia.

Question 23

What is Toxic Granulation?

Answer 23

Prominent, dark granules in neutrophil cytoplasm. Clinical Term: Toxic granulation. Associated Conditions: Severe infection, inflammation, sepsis.

Question 24

What are Döhle Bodies?

Answer 24

Pale blue cytoplasmic inclusions (RNA aggregates) in neutrophils. Clinical Term: Döhle bodies. Associated Conditions: Infection, inflammation, burns, chemotherapy.

Question 25

What is a Left Shift in WBCs?

Answer 25

Increased immature neutrophils (bands, myelocytes). Clinical Term: Left shift. Associated Conditions: Acute infection, leukemia, bone marrow stress.

Question 26

What are Reactive (Atypical) Lymphocytes?

Answer 26

Larger lymphocytes with abundant cytoplasm, irregular nuclei, basophilic rim. Clinical Term: Reactive lymphocytosis. Associated Conditions: Viral infections (e.g., EBV, CMV), post-vaccination.

Question 27

What are Lymphoblasts?

Answer 27

Immature lymphocytes with high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, thin cytoplasm rim. Clinical Term: Blast cells. Associated Conditions: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Question 28

What are Vacuolated Monocytes?

Answer 28

Monocytes with clear cytoplasmic vacuoles. Clinical Term: Vacuolated monocytes. Associated Conditions: Infection, lipid storage diseases, malignancy.

Question 29

What are Monoblasts/Promonocytes?

Answer 29

Immature monocytes with prominent nucleoli, basophilic cytoplasm. Clinical Term: Monocytic leukemia. Associated Conditions: Acute monocytic leukemia, AML.

Question 30

What are Hypogranular Eosinophils?

Answer 30

Eosinophils with reduced orange granules, pale cytoplasm. Clinical Term: Hypogranular eosinophilia. Associated Conditions: Allergic reactions, parasitic infections (rarely).

Question 31

What are Hypergranular Basophils?

Answer 31

Basophils with increased dark purple granules, obscuring nucleus. Clinical Term: Basophilia. Associated Conditions: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), hypersensitivity reactions.

Question 32

What are Auer Rods?

Answer 32

Rod-like, azurophilic inclusions in WBC cytoplasm. Clinical Term: Auer rods. Associated Conditions: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially AML-M3 (APL).