10 USMLE Hematology, Oncology and Immunology Quick Review Questions with Answers (Set 1)

These 10 quick USMLE review questions test the high-yield facts that show up again and again on the exam: parvovirus B19, transplant rejection, sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma, B-cell markers, testicular cancer, mesothelioma, interferon gamma and hemochromatosis. Each question includes the correct answer.

Written by Dr. Ray Makar, MD, author of the Repeated USMLE Questions eBook series.

Prefer video? Watch daily USMLE case questions on MedFocus by Dr. Ray on YouTube.

How to use this page: read the question, pick your answer, then tap Show Answer and Explanation.

Questions

Question 1. Which one of the following viruses most likely causes aplastic crisis in sickle cell disease?

A- Hepatitis C virus
B- Herpes simplex virus
C- Parvovirus B19
D- Rotavirus

C- Parvovirus B19
The correct answer is C

 

Question 2. Which one of the following reactions occurs between five days and three months after transplant?

A- Hyperacute rejection
B- Acute rejection
C- Chronic rejection
D- Delayed rejection

B- Acute rejection
The correct answer is B

 

Question 3. Which of the following is the main complication of sickle cell disease?

A- Autosplenectomy
B- Cerebral hemorrhage
C- Hepatic failure
D- Renal failure

A- Autosplenectomy
The correct answer is A

 

Question 4. Which of the following is the most accurate test for multiple myeloma?

A- 24-hour urine calculation
B- Bone marrow biopsy
C- Brain MRI
D- Urine electrophoresis

B- Bone marrow biopsy
The correct answer is B

 

Question 5. Which of the following markers identifies B lymphocytes in a blood sample treated with different fluorescent-labeled antibodies?

A- CD3
B- CD4
C- CD8
D- CD19

D- CD19- CD19 is a classic marker found on the surface of B lymphocytes. CD3 identifies T cells, while CD4 and CD8 mark helper and cytotoxic T-cell subsets, not B cells.
The correct answer is D

 

Question 6. Which one of the following can be found in the blood sample of a patient diagnosed with sickle cell disease?

A- Bite cells
B- Howell-Jolly bodies
C- Schistocytes
D- Spherocytes

B- Howell-Jolly bodies- Patients with sickle cell disease develop functional asplenia due to repeated splenic infarctions. Without a functioning spleen, they cannot remove nuclear remnants from red blood cells, leading to the presence of Howell-Jolly bodies on a blood smear. Bite cells occur in G6PD deficiency, schistocytes in microangiopathic hemolysis, and spherocytes in hereditary spherocytosis or autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
The correct answer is B

 

Question 7. Which of the following is the most common type of testicular cancer?

A- Granulosa cell tumor
B- Leydig cell tumor
C- Seminoma
D- Teratoma

C- Seminoma
The correct answer is C

 

Question 8. Which of the following substances is the risk factor in developing mesothelioma?

A- Asbestos
B- Copper
C- Lead
D- Silica

A- Asbestos
The correct answer is A

 

Question 9. Which of the following conditions is an indication for interferon gamma?

A- Chronic granulomatous disease
B- Chronic myeloblastic leukemia
C- Hepatitis A
D- Glomerulonephritis

A- Chronic granulomatous disease- Interferon-gamma is used to boost macrophage function and is specifically indicated for Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) to reduce the frequency of severe infections. It is not used for CML, hepatitis A, or glomerulonephritis.
The correct answer is A

 

Question 10. A patient with a history of diabetes presents with dark bronze skin pigmentation and multiple arthralgias. Which of the following would be detected in a joint aspirate?

A- Copper
B- Hemosiderin
C- Monosodium urate crystals
D- Negatively birefringent particles

B- Hemosiderin- The patient’s “dark bronze” skin and diabetes strongly suggest hereditary hemochromatosis. In hemochromatosis, excess iron is deposited in multiple tissues, including the joints. Joint aspiration may show hemosiderin-laden macrophages due to iron overload. Calcium pyrophosphate crystals (pseudogout) are common in hemochromatosis, but that option is not provided in the list. Monosodium urate crystals and negatively birefringent particles are findings of gout, not hemochromatosis.
The correct answer is B

 

High-yield points from this set

  • Parvovirus B19 causes aplastic crisis in sickle cell disease.
  • Howell-Jolly bodies indicate asplenia.
  • Seminoma is the most common testicular cancer.
  • Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma.

Keep practicing

Leave a Comment