Pathology Student

Acute leukemia vs. CML blast crisis

Q. I’d like to know how to differentiate between acute leukemia and blast crisis of CML. (more…)

How to tell apart aplastic anemia and pancytopenia

Q. How do you tell apart aplastic anemia and pancytopenia?

A. This is an interesting question, because we’re comparing a distinct disease (aplastic anemia) with a generalized blood finding (pancytopenia).

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Mastocytosis

Mastocytosis is actually a spectrum of rare disorders, all of which are characterized by – not surprisingly – an increase in mast cells. (more…)

A quick summary of the 6 types of necrosis

Q. I can’t seem to get the different types of necrosis straight (liquefactive, fibrinoid, etc.). Any help? (more…)

Henoch-Schonlein purpura: the disease you never really learned about

Sometimes in pathology, you hear the name of a disease over and over, but somehow you never really learn about it. (more…)

Does “differentiated” mean it looks different?

Q. A question: why do you call a tumor “well-differentiated” when actually it is the LEAST different from the tissue of origin? Shouldn’t it be “low differentiated?” (more…)

Aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia falls into the category of “anemias-in-which-the-cells-don’t-look-weird” category. (more…)

Test your knowledge of anemia with this multiple choice question

Dr. Krafts I am in need of some assistance with this question. From what I know, both A and D are types of IDA and therefore the lab findings should show a low reticulocyte count. C is a type of hemolytic anemia which can result in reticulocytosis, and I can’t comment on B. What is the answer, and why?

In a person with both anemia and reticulocytosis, which is the least likely cause?
A. acute blood loss
B. vitamin b12 deficiency with folate therapy
C. hereditary spherocytosis (more…)

Leukoerythroblastotic reaction

Here’s a long term: leukoerythroblastotic reaction. Despite its length, it’s a pretty good term, because it describes a reactive condition in which you see young red cells (erythroblasts) and young white cells (leuko-) out in the peripheral blood.

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The four main types of rosettes in pathology

Rosettes are little round groupings of cells found in tumors. They usually consist of cells in a spoke-wheel or halo arrangement surrounding a central, acellular region. (more…)