Haematology: practice question

A Pathology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pathology · Haematology

Sample item

A routine smear from a healthy 30-year-old shows many neutrophils with bilobed, spectacle-like nuclei and coarse clumped chromatin. He has no infections and his neutrophil function is normal. What is the finding?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pelger-Huet anomaly

Pelger-Huet anomaly is a benign inherited nuclear segmentation defect, with bilobed nuclei and normal function. It must be distinguished from pseudo-Pelger cells of myelodysplasia, which come with cytopenias and other dysplasia.

Option by option

  • A. Megaloblastic hypersegmentation

    Megaloblastic change gives neutrophils with five or more lobes, the opposite of reduced segmentation.

  • B. May-Hegglin anomaly

    May-Hegglin shows giant platelets with thrombocytopenia and Dohle-like inclusions in neutrophils.

  • C. Chediak-Higashi syndrome

    Chediak-Higashi shows giant lysosomal granules and recurrent infections, not a segmentation defect.

  • D. Pelger-Huet anomaly (correct)

    Correct. Bilobed neutrophils with normal function and no illness describe this benign lamin B receptor defect.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pathology questions

Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is D, Pelger-Huet anomaly. Pelger-Huet anomaly is a benign inherited nuclear segmentation defect, with bilobed nuclei and normal function.

Why is "Megaloblastic hypersegmentation" not the answer?

Megaloblastic change gives neutrophils with five or more lobes, the opposite of reduced segmentation.

Why is "May-Hegglin anomaly" not the answer?

May-Hegglin shows giant platelets with thrombocytopenia and Dohle-like inclusions in neutrophils.

Why is "Chediak-Higashi syndrome" not the answer?

Chediak-Higashi shows giant lysosomal granules and recurrent infections, not a segmentation defect.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology in Pathology. It must be distinguished from pseudo-Pelger cells of myelodysplasia, which come with cytopenias and other dysplasia.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Haematology?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.