Haematology: pernicious anaemia: practice question

A General Medicine 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 Medicine · Haematology: pernicious anaemia

Sample item

A 55-year-old woman with vitiligo has megaloblastic anaemia and positive anti-intrinsic factor antibodies. Which long-term risk should be monitored?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Gastric carcinoma

Pernicious anaemia is autoimmune atrophic gastritis with loss of intrinsic factor and parietal cells, associated with other autoimmune diseases. It increases the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumours. Lifelong intramuscular B12 is required.

Option by option

  • A. Gastric carcinoma (correct)

    Correct. Atrophic gastritis predisposes to gastric cancer.

  • B. Hepatocellular carcinoma

    HCC is linked to cirrhosis.

  • C. Pancreatic carcinoma

    Pancreatic cancer is not specifically linked.

  • D. Colonic adenoma

    Colonic adenoma risk is not increased in particular.

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 Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Gastric carcinoma. Pernicious anaemia is autoimmune atrophic gastritis with loss of intrinsic factor and parietal cells, associated with other autoimmune diseases.

Why is "Hepatocellular carcinoma" not the answer?

HCC is linked to cirrhosis.

Why is "Pancreatic carcinoma" not the answer?

Pancreatic cancer is not specifically linked.

Why is "Colonic adenoma" not the answer?

Colonic adenoma risk is not increased in particular.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology: pernicious anaemia in General Medicine. It increases the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumours. Lifelong intramuscular B12 is required.

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 Haematology: pernicious anaemia?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.