Gastrointestinal surgery: adult intussusception: 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 · Gastrointestinal surgery: adult intussusception

Sample item

A 55-year-old has recurrent colicky abdominal pain and CT shows a target sign in the ileocaecal region. What is the key difference from childhood intussusception?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A pathological lead point is usually present, so resection is generally performed

In adults, 80 to 90 percent of intussusceptions have a lead point such as a tumour, polyp or lipoma, so oncological resection without prior reduction is usually performed. In infants most are idiopathic and reduce with air or hydrostatic enema.

Option by option

  • A. A pathological lead point is usually present, so resection is generally performed (correct)

    Correct. A lead point is usual and resection is advised.

  • B. It is always idiopathic

    Adult cases are mostly secondary.

  • C. Air enema reduction is the standard

    Enema reduction is for infants.

  • D. It never recurs

    Untreated causes recur.

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, A pathological lead point is usually present, so resection is generally performed. In adults, 80 to 90 percent of intussusceptions have a lead point such as a tumour, polyp or lipoma, so oncological resection without prior reduction is usually performed.

Why is "It is always idiopathic" not the answer?

Adult cases are mostly secondary.

Why is "Air enema reduction is the standard" not the answer?

Enema reduction is for infants.

Why is "It never recurs" not the answer?

Untreated causes recur.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastrointestinal surgery: adult intussusception in General Surgery. In infants most are idiopathic and reduce with air or hydrostatic enema.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Gastrointestinal surgery: adult intussusception?

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.