Colorectal surgery: rectal 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: rectal cancer

Sample item

A patient has rectal bleeding, altered bowel habit, tenesmus, and iron-deficiency anemia. What is the appropriate diagnostic principle?

AUrgent colorectal assessment with direct visualization and biopsyBOrder a chest radiograph as the sole testCUse stool softener onlyDTreat indefinitely as hemorrhoids without examination

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Urgent colorectal assessment with direct visualization and biopsy

Rectal bleeding with change in bowel habit, tenesmus, or anemia can indicate colorectal cancer and requires timely evaluation. Endoscopic visualization and tissue diagnosis guide staging and management.

Option by option

A. Urgent colorectal assessment with direct visualization and biopsy (correct)
Correct. Direct assessment and biopsy establish diagnosis.
B. Order a chest radiograph as the sole test
Chest radiograph alone cannot diagnose a rectal lesion.
C. Use stool softener only
Stool softeners do not exclude malignancy.
D. Treat indefinitely as hemorrhoids without examination
Hemorrhoids should not be assumed in the presence of red flags.

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 A, Urgent colorectal assessment with direct visualization and biopsy. Rectal bleeding with change in bowel habit, tenesmus, or anemia can indicate colorectal cancer and requires timely evaluation.

Why is "Order a chest radiograph as the sole test" not the answer?

Chest radiograph alone cannot diagnose a rectal lesion.

Why is "Use stool softener only" not the answer?

Stool softeners do not exclude malignancy.

Why is "Treat indefinitely as hemorrhoids without examination" not the answer?

Hemorrhoids should not be assumed in the presence of red flags.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Colorectal surgery: rectal cancer in General Surgery. Endoscopic visualization and tissue diagnosis guide staging and management.

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: rectal 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.