Leukemia

[DRealDrZ]

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Do you really have to classify the leukemias on the test (M1, M2, M3, etc) or is that just QBank making me angry?

 

[Stinger86]

My test sure didn't, but if anyone's did, that sucks

 

[Lara]

I'd like to know too - only 10% of qbank done and I've already come across two FAB classification questions!

Does anyone have an easy way of keeping the various leukemias and lymphomas plus their freaking stages etc straight (especially in terms of what you'd expect to see in a blood analysis)? 🙁

 

[Idiopathic]

I think that M3 is high yield, since you can see DIC with it, but if asked to classify based on the morphology of the cell, I will just mark it and move on.

 

[DRealDrZ]

It's funny that you say that...for all of them I've put M3...figuring just that. I don't even read the question, just mark it and move on. I figure I'll get one right by doing that.

 

[Idiopathic]

It's funny that you say that...for all of them I've put M3...figuring just that. I don't even read the question, just mark it and move on. I figure I'll get one right by doing that.

Of course, on QBank, M3 is never right...

 

[MedPuck]

Thank you for asking this question, I was beginning to feel like I was supposed to know these worthless classifications. 😱 What is so wrong with "Acute promyelocytic leukemia"? Does it really need another letter and number stamped to it? QBank is fixated on so much random BS despite its worth. I already decided not to bother with the L1-3/ M1-7 ordeal and it would be great if we did not encounter any of them on the boards.

 

[fernj1975]

I'm starting to believe that Qbank throws in these ridiculous questions to keep us on our toes and not to get overconfident. That's why you will never hear (at least from what I gather) someone saying "oh qbank was easy",lol.

 

[Kosmo]

I don't remember any questions where knowing the specific classification was the only way to come to the correct answer.
But the auer rod/DIC thing is good to know, and you should know about staging of lymphomas... there may be a question asking just that, i.e., give you the Dx of lymphoma, some Sx, some findings, and what is the stage?

Also, I don't remember any questions on staging of leukemias.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I think that I got a couple of Q bank questions on M3 and one on M6. We got these pounded into our heads by our Path professor, but I suspect that Step 1 probably wont make a big deal out of them.

 

[Idiopathic]

The key to QBank is that it is a learning opportunity, the writers think you should know the classifications and so they ask a ridiculous question about it to scare you...whether or not it shows up on the test, they know it is under-learned in school.

 

[Stinger86]

From my experiences, knowing key characteristics for each type of leukemia/lymphoma is what's important (auer rods, DIC, smudge cells, etc). How you classify them.. well frankly, who cares? Qbank tests you over a lot of useless stuff.

And for the record don't learn it as M3, learn it as PML, promyelocytic leukemia. This is the step 1, not the heme/onc certification boards