Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: colorectal liver metastases: 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 · Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: colorectal liver metastases

Sample item

A patient with resected colon cancer has two metastases confined to the right lobe. What determines resectability?

APatient age aloneBNumber of metastases aloneCAbility to achieve R0 resection leaving an adequate future liver remnantDCEA level alone

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Ability to achieve R0 resection leaving an adequate future liver remnant

Resection of colorectal liver metastases offers 5-year survival around 40 to 50 percent. Eligibility depends on complete (R0) clearance with sufficient remnant (about 20 to 30 percent with good function) and control of extrahepatic disease. Portal vein embolisation or staged resection expand options.

Option by option

A. Patient age alone
Age is not itself a limiting factor.
B. Number of metastases alone
Number alone does not decide.
C. Ability to achieve R0 resection leaving an adequate future liver remnant (correct)
Correct. R0 resection with adequate remnant is the key.
D. CEA level alone
CEA does not determine feasibility.

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.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Ability to achieve R0 resection leaving an adequate future liver remnant. Resection of colorectal liver metastases offers 5-year survival around 40 to 50 percent.

Why is "Patient age alone" not the answer?

Age is not itself a limiting factor.

Why is "Number of metastases alone" not the answer?

Number alone does not decide.

Why is "CEA level alone" not the answer?

CEA does not determine feasibility.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: colorectal liver metastases in General Surgery. Eligibility depends on complete (R0) clearance with sufficient remnant (about 20 to 30 percent with good function) and control of extrahepatic disease. Portal vein embolisation or staged resection expand options.

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 Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: colorectal liver metastases?

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.