Nokea
A patient who is infected with hookworms produces signs and symptoms of anemia. Which of the following can be seen in the peripheral blood smear of the patient?
- A. Howell-Jolly bodies
- B. Basophilic stippling
- C. Target cells
- D. Spherocytes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Basophilic stippling. Hookworm infection can lead to anemia due to chronic blood loss. Basophilic stippling is a characteristic finding in the peripheral blood smear of patients with iron deficiency anemia, which can result from hookworm infection. Basophilic stippling represents the aggregation of ribosomes and is seen in erythrocytes that contain denatured ribosomal RNA. Howell-Jolly bodies are remnants of nuclear material and are typically seen in patients with functional asplenia. Target cells are seen in conditions like liver disease or hemoglobinopathies. Spherocytes are seen in immune hemolytic anemias.
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A 9-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with emesis and headache of 3 weeks' duration. MRI reveals a large heterogeneous mass in the cerebellum. He undergoes a resection, and the pathology is most consistent with a classic medulloblastoma. Which of the following findings would classify the patient as a high-risk medulloblastoma?
- A. Elevated serum and CSF AFP and beta-HCG tumor markers
- B. WNT subgrouping on molecular classification
- C. A presurgical spine MRI that reveals bulky tumor in the spine
- D. A postoperative brain MRI with no signs of residual tumor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A presurgical spine MRI revealing bulky tumor in the spine classifies the patient as high-risk due to leptomeningeal spread. This indicates dissemination of the tumor cells beyond the primary site, leading to a poorer prognosis. Choice A is incorrect as AFP and beta-HCG markers are associated with germ cell tumors, not medulloblastomas. Choice B is incorrect as WNT subgrouping is associated with better outcomes. Choice D is incorrect because the absence of residual tumor postoperatively does not necessarily indicate high-risk disease.
You are seeing a 12-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with the sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. Imaging that was obtained to rule out appendicitis revealed a mass adjacent to the bladder. The mass was surgically resected, and pathology demonstrated a paraganglioma. Which of the studies below would be most useful to determine disease stage for this patient?
- A. Bone Scan
- B. Lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid cytology
- C. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy
- D. Ga 68-DOTATATE PET/CT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Ga 68-DOTATATE PET/CT. This imaging study is the most useful for determining the disease stage in a patient with paraganglioma. Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that express somatostatin receptors, which can be detected using Ga 68-DOTATATE PET/CT. This imaging modality helps to localize primary and metastatic lesions, as well as assess disease extent and stage.
Now let's analyze the other options:
A: Bone Scan - Not useful for determining disease stage in paraganglioma.
B: Lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid cytology - Not indicated for staging paraganglioma.
C: Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy - Not specific for staging paraganglioma.
In summary, Ga 68-DOTATATE PET/CT is the most appropriate study for determining disease stage in a patient with paraganglioma due to its
According to the FAB classification, the L2 stage is characterized by:
- A. Large heterogenous blasts with prominent nucleoli
- B. Small homogenous blasts with scanty nucleoli and higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio
- C. Large homogenous blasts with scanty nucleoli and higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio
- D. Large blasts with basophilic vacuolated cytoplasm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because according to the FAB classification, the L2 stage is characterized by large homogenous blasts with scanty nucleoli and a higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio. This stage represents acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a high risk of relapse. Choice A is incorrect as it describes the L1 stage. Choice B is incorrect as it describes the L3 stage. Choice D is incorrect as it does not accurately describe the characteristics of the L2 stage.
A 19-year-old freshman in college presents with 'lumps' on the right side of his neck and in the right axilla. He had a fever to 39 °C 1 day in the past week. On physical exam, there are firm anterior cervical and axillary nodes, all greater than 2 cm in diameter. A chest x-ray shows a large mediastinal mass. A biopsy of the axillary node reveals classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Which of the following symptoms revealed during the history is a B symptom?
- A. Fever to 39 °C
- B. 10% weight loss in past 6 months
- C. Fatigue
- D. Alcohol-induced pain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 10% weight loss in the past 6 months. In Hodgkin lymphoma, B symptoms include unexplained weight loss of more than 10% in the past 6 months, fever >38°C, and night sweats. Weight loss is a significant indicator of systemic illness and malignancy. In this case, the patient's weight loss, along with the presence of fever and lymphadenopathy, fulfills the criteria for B symptoms in Hodgkin lymphoma. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because fever, fatigue, and alcohol-induced pain are not specifically classified as B symptoms in the context of Hodgkin lymphoma. Fever alone does not qualify as a B symptom unless it is associated with other systemic symptoms like weight loss and night sweats. Fatigue can be a nonspecific symptom in many conditions, and alcohol-induced pain is not a recognized B symptom in Hodgkin lymphoma.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for leukemia in the hospital. The patient was able to maintain her nutritional status for the first few weeks following her diagnosis but is now exhibiting early signs and symptoms of malnutrition. In collaboration with the dietitian, the nurse should implement what intervention?
- A. Arrange for total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
- B. Facilitate placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube.
- C. Provide the patient with several small, soft-textured meals each day.
- D. Assign responsibility for the patient's nutrition to the patient's friends and family.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Provide the patient with several small, soft-textured meals each day. This intervention is appropriate for the patient showing early signs of malnutrition as it aims to increase the patient's nutrient intake in a manageable way. Small, soft-textured meals are easier for the patient to consume and digest, promoting better absorption of nutrients. This approach also aligns with the principle of promoting oral intake whenever possible before resorting to more invasive measures like TPN or PEG tube placement.
Incorrect choices:
A: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is typically reserved for patients who cannot tolerate oral feeding at all or have significant malabsorption issues.
B: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is usually considered if the patient cannot meet their nutritional needs orally in the long term.
D: Assigning responsibility for the patient's nutrition to friends and family is not a sustainable or appropriate solution for addressing malnutrition in a hospitalized patient.