2 January 2025 (Thursday) - NEQAS 2408BF

I got the results of NEQAS 2408BF today:
 
2408 BF1
 
I said:
 
Macrocytosis
Target cells (consensus 2^nd)
Nucleated red cells (consensus 1st)
Howell-Jolly bodies (consensus 3^rd)
Large platelets (consensus 6^th)
 
?? Marrow infiltration
 
Well… The patient has beta thalassaemia major with a previous splenectomy and was on a regular transfusion program (2 units every 4 weeks). The latter accounts for the normal red cells in the film, Got that wrong, didn’t I… Or did I.
I spotted the salient features, and how likely is it that we would get a sample from someone like this without a full history?
 
 
2408BF2
 
Macrocytosis
Basophilic stippling (consensus 6^th)
Echinocytes (consensus 7^th)
Target cells
Neutrophilia (consensus 3^rd)
 
And nrbc (consensus 1^st), polychromasia (consensus 4^th), anisopoik,
 
??? post splenectomy
 
Again, not brilliant, but again I spotted the salient features.