Colorectal surgery: colorectal cancer: 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 · Colorectal surgery: colorectal cancer

Sample item

A right-sided colon cancer is more likely than a left-sided lesion to present with what?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Iron-deficiency anaemia

Right-sided lesions often bleed occultly and cause iron-deficiency anaemia because the caecal lumen is wide. Left-sided cancers more often obstruct or change bowel habit.

Option by option

  • A. Early obstructive constipation

    Obstruction is more typical on the narrower left side.

  • B. Change to narrow stools only

    Narrow stools are a distal-colon/rectal symptom.

  • C. Iron-deficiency anaemia (correct)

    Correct. Occult chronic blood loss is typical of right colon cancer.

  • D. Visible rectal mass

    A rectal mass is a distal finding.

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 C, Iron-deficiency anaemia. Right-sided lesions often bleed occultly and cause iron-deficiency anaemia because the caecal lumen is wide.

Why is "Early obstructive constipation" not the answer?

Obstruction is more typical on the narrower left side.

Why is "Change to narrow stools only" not the answer?

Narrow stools are a distal-colon/rectal symptom.

Why is "Visible rectal mass" not the answer?

A rectal mass is a distal finding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Colorectal surgery: colorectal cancer in General Surgery. Left-sided cancers more often obstruct or change bowel habit.

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 Colorectal surgery: colorectal cancer?

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.