Pancreas: pseudocyst: 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 · Pancreas: pseudocyst

Sample item

A man recovering from acute pancreatitis has persistent abdominal fullness and early satiety 7 weeks later. CT shows a 9 cm well-defined fluid collection with a thick fibrous wall next to the stomach. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Internal drainage by endoscopic or surgical cystogastrostomy

A pancreatic pseudocyst is a peripancreatic collection of pancreatic fluid with a non-epithelialised fibrous wall, which matures after about 4 to 6 weeks. Symptomatic or large cysts are drained internally into the stomach or jejunum, endoscopically or surgically. Simple aspiration often recurs, and external drainage risks a fistula.

Option by option

  • A. Total pancreatectomy

    Resection of the whole pancreas is excessive for a benign collection.

  • B. Observation, since all pseudocysts resolve

    Small asymptomatic cysts may resolve, but this is large and symptomatic.

  • C. Internal drainage by endoscopic or surgical cystogastrostomy (correct)

    Correct. A mature symptomatic pseudocyst is drained internally into the gut.

  • D. Immediate external needle aspiration only

    Aspiration alone usually recurs and risks infection.

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, Internal drainage by endoscopic or surgical cystogastrostomy. A pancreatic pseudocyst is a peripancreatic collection of pancreatic fluid with a non-epithelialised fibrous wall, which matures after about 4 to 6 weeks.

Why is "Total pancreatectomy" not the answer?

Resection of the whole pancreas is excessive for a benign collection.

Why is "Observation, since all pseudocysts resolve" not the answer?

Small asymptomatic cysts may resolve, but this is large and symptomatic.

Why is "Immediate external needle aspiration only" not the answer?

Aspiration alone usually recurs and risks infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pancreas: pseudocyst in General Surgery. Symptomatic or large cysts are drained internally into the stomach or jejunum, endoscopically or surgically. Simple aspiration often recurs, and external drainage risks a fistula.

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 Pancreas: pseudocyst?

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.