What red cell inclusion may be seen in the peripheral blood smear of a patient post-splenectomy?

Howell-Jolly bodies are remnants of nuclear material that can be found in red blood cells. These inclusions are typically removed by the spleen during the normal process of erythrocyte maturation and circulation. However, following a splenectomy, the body loses this filtering capability, allowing Howell-Jolly bodies to persist in the bloodstream.

In a patient who has undergone a splenectomy, the presence of Howell-Jolly bodies in a peripheral blood smear indicates that the spleen is no longer able to eliminate these remnants effectively. This finding is clinically significant as it reflects the loss of splenic function and can be a marker of increased risk for certain infections.

Additionally, toxic granulation, malarial parasites, and siderotic granules do not specifically correlate with post-splenectomy findings. Toxic granulation is often associated with infection or inflammation, malarial parasites indicate an active infection with malaria, and siderotic granules are related to iron metabolism issues. None of these would be expected to specifically increase in frequency as a direct consequence of splenic removal, making Howell-Jolly bodies the most relevant inclusion in this context.