A 25-year-old boy is brought to the physician because of left-sided groin pain and difficulty walking for one week. He reports having pain at rest and increased pain with activity. He recently started playing flag football but does not recall any trauma. He has had many episodes of joint and bone pain that required hospitalization in the past. The patient and his family emigrated from India 2 years ago. He is at the 25th percentile for height and 20th percentile for weight. His temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 90/min, and blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Examination shows tenderness over the lateral aspect of the left hip with no swelling, warmth, or erythema. There is pain with passive internal rotation of the left hip. . Laboratory evaluation shows a hemoglobin level of 6.7 g/dL.Histopathologic evaluation of this patient's spleen is most likely to reveal which of the following?

Question

A 25-year-old boy is brought to the physician because of left-sided groin pain and difficulty walking for one week. He reports having pain at rest and increased pain with activity. He recently started playing flag football but does not recall any trauma. He has had many episodes of joint and bone pain that required hospitalization in the past. The patient and his family emigrated from India 2 years ago. He is at the 25th percentile for height and 20th percentile for weight. His temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 90/min, and blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Examination shows tenderness over the lateral aspect of the left hip with no swelling, warmth, or erythema. There is pain with passive internal rotation of the left hip. .  Laboratory evaluation shows a hemoglobin level of 6.7 g/dL.Histopathologic evaluation of this patient's spleen is most likely to reveal which of the following?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Sickle cell disease is characterized by repeated splenic infarctions that ultimately result in splenic atrophy and fibrosis, a process that is typically complete by late childhood/adolescence.  After autosplenectomy, patients are predisposed to infections with encapsulated bacterial organisms.

A 25-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Physician Because of Left-Sided