A Bone Marrow Core Biopsy Is Received on a 10-Year-Old

A bone marrow core biopsy is received on a 10-year-old male patient suspected of having aplastic anemia. The pathologist reviews the smear and concludes the overall cellularity to be 22% with an M:E ratio of 2.5:1. Is the patient likely suffering from aplastic anemia? Why or why not?

A) There is not enough information to determine whether the patient has aplastic anemia.
B) Yes, the patient is presumably suffering from aplastic anemia, but the M:E ratio does not correlate well with that diagnosis.
C) No, the patient is not suffering from aplastic anemia because the overall cellularity is increased.
D) Yes, the patient is presumably suffering from aplastic anemia because of the low overall cellularity and the normal M:E ratio.