Breast surgery: sentinel node: 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: sentinel node

Sample item

What is the main purpose of sentinel lymph-node biopsy in clinically node-negative breast cancer?

ATo treat mastitisBTo stage the axilla with less morbidityCTo replace excision of the primary tumourDTo screen the opposite breast

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. To stage the axilla with less morbidity

The sentinel node is the first draining node; if negative, many patients avoid full axillary dissection and its lymphedema risk.

Option by option

A. To treat mastitis
Mastitis is treated medically.
B. To stage the axilla with less morbidity (correct)
Correct. It provides nodal staging while reducing morbidity.
C. To replace excision of the primary tumour
Primary-tumour treatment remains necessary.
D. To screen the opposite breast
It does not screen the contralateral breast.

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, To stage the axilla with less morbidity. The sentinel node is the first draining node; if negative, many patients avoid full axillary dissection and its lymphedema risk.

Why is "To treat mastitis" not the answer?

Mastitis is treated medically.

Why is "To replace excision of the primary tumour" not the answer?

Primary-tumour treatment remains necessary.

Why is "To screen the opposite breast" not the answer?

It does not screen the contralateral breast.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast surgery: sentinel node in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct. It provides nodal staging while reducing morbidity.

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: sentinel node?

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.