Spleen: hereditary spherocytosis: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Spleen: hereditary spherocytosis

Sample item

A 7-year-old child with hereditary spherocytosis has persistent haemolysis and transfusion requirements. What is the treatment of choice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Splenectomy after age 5 to 6 years

Splenectomy removes the site of destruction of the fragile spherocytes and cures most of the anaemia, though spherocytes persist. It is delayed beyond about 5 to 6 years to lower infection risk. Concomitant cholecystectomy is performed if gallstones are present.

Option by option

  • A. Splenectomy after age 5 to 6 years (correct)

    Correct. Splenectomy after early childhood is the standard.

  • B. Lifelong steroids

    Steroids are not useful in this inherited defect.

  • C. Splenectomy in the first year of life

    Very early splenectomy raises infection risk.

  • D. Bone marrow transplantation as first-line

    Transplantation is not first-line.

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.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Splenectomy after age 5 to 6 years. Splenectomy removes the site of destruction of the fragile spherocytes and cures most of the anaemia, though spherocytes persist.

Why is "Lifelong steroids" not the answer?

Steroids are not useful in this inherited defect.

Why is "Splenectomy in the first year of life" not the answer?

Very early splenectomy raises infection risk.

Why is "Bone marrow transplantation as first-line" not the answer?

Transplantation is not first-line.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spleen: hereditary spherocytosis in General Surgery. It is delayed beyond about 5 to 6 years to lower infection risk. Concomitant cholecystectomy is performed if gallstones are present.

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 Spleen: hereditary spherocytosis?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.