A 52 y/o man receives a preoperative evaluation before an al

A 52 y/o man receives a preoperative evaluation before an alective surgery. He is asymptomatic with a normal P/E, but he is noted to have a Hgb= 10.8, Hct= 33, MCV= 70, RBC= 6.1x1000/ microlit. What’s the most likely Dx?
A- Sickle cell dis.
B- Iron def. Anemia
C- Alpha thalassemia major
D- Beta thalassemia minor
E- Anemia of chronic dis

Answer is D. low MCV is either IDA or beta-thal. BUT, high no. of RBCs is characteristic of beta-thal. In IDA, RBC count is below normal.
pt. has hypocromic, microcytic anemia,..as well as increased retic. count--> increased RBC's, ..this last feature makes the better choice here to be thalassemia, as oposed to iron def. for example
iron def. seems to be avery good choice, as one should think anemia in older MAN , is due to cancer-COLON ca , until proven otherwise..however you would expect to see low reticulocytes count w/ iron def. anemia.
note- elevated retic. counts--> seen in thalassemia/hemoglobinopathy,..like SS anemia