Breast surgery: 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 · Breast surgery

Sample item

Which breast lump feature warrants urgent specialist assessment for possible malignancy?

ATender lump that resolves with mensesBHard irregular mass fixed to surrounding tissueCMilk leakage immediately after breastfeedingDDiffuse bilateral cyclic nodularity

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hard irregular mass fixed to surrounding tissue

A hard, irregular, fixed breast mass is concerning for malignancy and should be evaluated promptly with triple assessment, whereas many cyclical or lactational changes have more benign explanations.

Option by option

A. Tender lump that resolves with menses
A cyclical resolving lump is often hormonally related but still needs context-based assessment.
B. Hard irregular mass fixed to surrounding tissue (correct)
Correct: fixation and irregular hardness are suspicious breast features.
C. Milk leakage immediately after breastfeeding
Post-lactation milk leakage can be physiological soon after breastfeeding.
D. Diffuse bilateral cyclic nodularity
Diffuse bilateral cyclical nodularity is commonly benign fibrocystic change.

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 B, Hard irregular mass fixed to surrounding tissue. A hard, irregular, fixed breast mass is concerning for malignancy and should be evaluated promptly with triple assessment, whereas many cyclical or lactational changes have more benign explanations.

Why is "Tender lump that resolves with menses" not the answer?

A cyclical resolving lump is often hormonally related but still needs context-based assessment.

Why is "Milk leakage immediately after breastfeeding" not the answer?

Post-lactation milk leakage can be physiological soon after breastfeeding.

Why is "Diffuse bilateral cyclic nodularity" not the answer?

Diffuse bilateral cyclical nodularity is commonly benign fibrocystic change.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast surgery in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: fixation and irregular hardness are suspicious breast features.

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 Breast surgery?

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.