Benign gynaecology: functional ovarian cysts: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Benign gynaecology: functional ovarian cysts

Sample item

A 22-year-old has a 4 cm simple unilocular thin-walled ovarian cyst with no flow found incidentally. She is asymptomatic. What is the best advice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Repeat ultrasound in 6 to 8 weeks, as most follicular cysts resolve spontaneously

Follicular cysts arise from non-rupture of a dominant follicle and are usually less than 5 cm, simple and resolve in 2 to 3 cycles. Observation with repeat imaging is appropriate for asymptomatic simple cysts in reproductive-age women. Oral contraceptives do not hasten resolution, and surgery is for persistent, complex or symptomatic cysts.

Option by option

  • A. Repeat ultrasound in 6 to 8 weeks, as most follicular cysts resolve spontaneously (correct)

    Correct. Simple functional cysts are observed and rescanned.

  • B. Immediate laparoscopic cystectomy

    Surgery is unnecessary for an asymptomatic simple cyst.

  • C. CA-125 and oophorectomy

    Tumour markers and oophorectomy are excessive for a simple cyst.

  • D. Oral contraceptive pills to hasten resolution

    Contraceptive pills prevent new cysts but do not shorten the resolution of existing ones.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Repeat ultrasound in 6 to 8 weeks, as most follicular cysts resolve spontaneously. Follicular cysts arise from non-rupture of a dominant follicle and are usually less than 5 cm, simple and resolve in 2 to 3 cycles.

Why is "Immediate laparoscopic cystectomy" not the answer?

Surgery is unnecessary for an asymptomatic simple cyst.

Why is "CA-125 and oophorectomy" not the answer?

Tumour markers and oophorectomy are excessive for a simple cyst.

Why is "Oral contraceptive pills to hasten resolution" not the answer?

Contraceptive pills prevent new cysts but do not shorten the resolution of existing ones.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Benign gynaecology: functional ovarian cysts in OBG. Observation with repeat imaging is appropriate for asymptomatic simple cysts in reproductive-age women. Oral contraceptives do not hasten resolution, and surgery is for persistent, complex or symptomatic cysts.

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 Benign gynaecology: functional ovarian cysts?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.