Breast surgery: malignancy: 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 · Breast surgery: malignancy

Sample item

Which breast finding is most concerning for carcinoma?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Hard irregular fixed mass with skin tethering

A hard irregular fixed lesion with skin tethering suggests invasive malignancy and requires triple assessment. Cyclical tender mobile lumps more often reflect benign change.

Option by option

  • A. Tender mobile lump varying with cycle

    Cyclical mobility favours benign disease.

  • B. Milky discharge postpartum

    Postpartum galactorrhoea can be physiologic.

  • C. Hard irregular fixed mass with skin tethering (correct)

    Correct. Fixation and skin changes are red flags.

  • D. Bilateral diffuse nodularity

    Diffuse bilateral nodularity is commonly benign.

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, Hard irregular fixed mass with skin tethering. A hard irregular fixed lesion with skin tethering suggests invasive malignancy and requires triple assessment.

Why is "Tender mobile lump varying with cycle" not the answer?

Cyclical mobility favours benign disease.

Why is "Milky discharge postpartum" not the answer?

Postpartum galactorrhoea can be physiologic.

Why is "Bilateral diffuse nodularity" not the answer?

Diffuse bilateral nodularity is commonly benign.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast surgery: malignancy in General Surgery. Cyclical tender mobile lumps more often reflect benign change.

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: malignancy?

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.