Deck 17: Bone Marrow Examination

Question 1

Which of the following would be a valid indication for performing a bone marrow aspiration?

A)iron deficiency
B)folate deficiency
C)unexpected pancytopenia
D)leukocytosis from a severe infection

Answer 1

unexpected pancytopenia

Question 2

The sites of active red marrow differ for adults and young children.Which one site is active in children but not in adults?

A)proximal end of the long bones
B)skull
C)distal ends of the long bones
D)pelvis

Answer 2

distal ends of the long bones

Question 3

A cell is described as having an eccentric,heavily stained (condensed chromatin)nucleus with blue cytoplasm.A pale perinuclear Golgi complex is noted next to the nucleus.What is this cell?

A)myelocyte
B)plasma cell
C)lymphocyte
D)myeloblast

Answer 3

plasma cell

Question 4

Low power (*10)is used to count and evaluate which of the following?

A)immature neutrophils
B)megakaryocytes
C)nucleated red cells
D)plasma cells

Question 5

For which of the following is obtaining a bone marrow core biopsy mandatory?

A)Anemia is suspected.
B)Leukemia is suspected.
C)Megakaryocyte disorders are suspected.
D)Aspirate is a dry tap.

Question 6

What type of preparation is preferred for bone marrow aspirates?

A)coverslip smears from a bone marrow fragment called a spicule
B)wedge smears made from the blood surrounding marrow fragments
C)touch preps from rolling the biopsy on a glass slide
D)smears of the biopsy made with an automated slide maker

Question 7

The myeloid-to-erythroid (M:E)ratio of a bone marrow in a 35-year-old male is 1:1.Select the correct interpretation.

A)normal
B)abnormal, more fat cells than normal
C)abnormal, more white cell precursors than normal
D)abnormal, more red cell precursors than normal

Question 8

A bone marrow aspirate shows copious blue granules with the Prussian blue stain.Select the correct interpretation.

A)iron overload
B)iron deficiency
C)tumor cells present
D)megakaryocytes increased

Question 9

What bone marrow sample is best to determine fat-to-cell ratio and overall cellularity,as well as for searching for malignant cells?

A)core biopsy
B)aspirate smears
C)peripheral blood
D)Prussian blue stain

Question 10

Osteoblasts can be easily confused with

A)megakaryocytes.
B)osteoclasts.
C)plasma cells.
D)macrophages.

Question 11

The best use for bone marrow aspirate smears is

A)counting the differential.
B)determining overall cellularity.
C)estimating fat-to-cell ratio.
D)evaluating for focal lesions such as lymphoma.

Question 12

Which of the following is least helpful in evaluating bone marrow findings?

A)differential performed on the aspirate
B)clinical findings
C)laboratory data from chemistry, immunology, and microbiology
D)examination of peripheral blood

Question 13

What stain is most commonly used for bone marrow aspirates?

A)Prussian blue
B)new methylene blue
C)hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)
D)Wright

Question 14

What is the most common site for bone marrow aspiration in an adult?

A)sternum
B)posterior iliac crest
C)tibia
D)ribs

Question 15

Which of the following cell types tend to be found in molded clusters in the bone marrow?

A)megakaryocytes
B)malignant cells
C)immature granulocytes
D)monocytes