A 78-year-old female receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer had a CBC performed after her last treatment.Her absolute neutrophil count was 1.0 × 10⁹/L.What information can be concluded from this?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A neutrophil count of 1.0 × 10⁹/L indicates that the patient has neutropenia, which is a low level of neutrophils in the blood. Neutropenia is a common side effect of chemotherapy as it can damage the bone marrow's ability to produce white blood cells. This puts the patient at a higher risk for infections and requires close monitoring. Agranulocytosis is a severe reduction in the number of granulocytes, including neutrophils, and is less likely in this case. A neutrophilia is an increase in the number of neutrophils, which is not seen in this patient.

A 78-Year-Old Female Receiving Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Had a CBC