Hepatobiliary surgery: gallstone pancreatitis: 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 surgery: gallstone pancreatitis

Sample item

A patient with acute pancreatitis has jaundice and a dilated common bile duct. Which associated cause should be suspected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Persistent choledocholithiasis

Jaundice and common-bile-duct dilatation in acute pancreatitis suggest ongoing bile-duct obstruction by a stone. The need for endoscopic intervention depends on evidence of cholangitis or persistent obstruction.

Option by option

  • A. Persistent choledocholithiasis (correct)

    Correct. A retained ductal stone accounts for both obstruction and biliary pancreatitis.

  • B. Primary hyperparathyroidism

    Hyperparathyroidism can cause hypercalcemic pancreatitis but not typically duct dilatation and jaundice.

  • C. Uncomplicated viral gastroenteritis

    Gastroenteritis does not dilate the bile duct or cause pancreatitis.

  • D. Peptic ulcer disease only

    Peptic ulcer disease does not explain obstructive jaundice in this pattern.

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, Persistent choledocholithiasis. Jaundice and common-bile-duct dilatation in acute pancreatitis suggest ongoing bile-duct obstruction by a stone.

Why is "Primary hyperparathyroidism" not the answer?

Hyperparathyroidism can cause hypercalcemic pancreatitis but not typically duct dilatation and jaundice.

Why is "Uncomplicated viral gastroenteritis" not the answer?

Gastroenteritis does not dilate the bile duct or cause pancreatitis.

Why is "Peptic ulcer disease only" not the answer?

Peptic ulcer disease does not explain obstructive jaundice in this pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary surgery: gallstone pancreatitis in General Surgery. The need for endoscopic intervention depends on evidence of cholangitis or persistent obstruction.

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 surgery: gallstone pancreatitis?

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.