Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: extrahepatic portal venous obstruction: 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.

Try it

General Surgery · Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: extrahepatic portal venous obstruction

Sample item

A 10-year-old boy has massive haematemesis, splenomegaly, normal liver function tests and normal liver on ultrasound with portal cavernoma. Which diagnosis is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction

EHPVO is a common cause of portal hypertension in Indian children, often from neonatal umbilical sepsis or catheterisation. Liver function is preserved and variceal bleeding is managed by endoscopic banding with shunt surgery (such as Rex shunt) in selected cases.

Option by option

  • A. Peptic ulcer

    Ulcer would not explain splenomegaly and varices.

  • B. Cirrhosis

    Cirrhosis shows hepatic dysfunction and a nodular liver.

  • C. Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (correct)

    Correct. Normal liver with cavernoma suggests EHPVO.

  • D. Budd-Chiari syndrome

    Budd-Chiari shows hepatic venous outflow obstruction with ascites.

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.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction. EHPVO is a common cause of portal hypertension in Indian children, often from neonatal umbilical sepsis or catheterisation.

Why is "Peptic ulcer" not the answer?

Ulcer would not explain splenomegaly and varices.

Why is "Cirrhosis" not the answer?

Cirrhosis shows hepatic dysfunction and a nodular liver.

Why is "Budd-Chiari syndrome" not the answer?

Budd-Chiari shows hepatic venous outflow obstruction with ascites.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: extrahepatic portal venous obstruction in General Surgery. Liver function is preserved and variceal bleeding is managed by endoscopic banding with shunt surgery (such as Rex shunt) in selected cases.

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 Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: extrahepatic portal venous obstruction?

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.