Toxicology: acid ingestion complication: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: acid ingestion complication

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman swallowed a concentrated toilet cleaner containing sulphuric acid 6 weeks ago. She now has vomiting after meals and visible gastric peristalsis. Which complication is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cicatricial gastric outlet stenosis

Strong acids cause coagulative necrosis and tend to pool in the stomach, especially the antrum and pylorus, so late complications include gastric outlet obstruction from scarring. Alkalis cause liquefactive necrosis and injure the oesophagus, producing strictures. Post-prandial vomiting with visible peristalsis points to outlet obstruction.

Option by option

  • A. Achalasia from damage to the myenteric plexus

    Achalasia is a primary motility disorder, not a corrosive complication.

  • B. Oesophageal stricture typical of alkali ingestion

    Oesophageal strictures are characteristic of alkali ingestion and do not explain visible gastric peristalsis.

  • C. Cicatricial gastric outlet stenosis (correct)

    Correct. Antral and pyloric scarring after acid ingestion produces gastric outlet obstruction.

  • D. Duodenal ulcer scarring from Helicobacter infection

    Helicobacter is unrelated to the corrosive history.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Cicatricial gastric outlet stenosis. Strong acids cause coagulative necrosis and tend to pool in the stomach, especially the antrum and pylorus, so late complications include gastric outlet obstruction from scarring.

Why is "Achalasia from damage to the myenteric plexus" not the answer?

Achalasia is a primary motility disorder, not a corrosive complication.

Why is "Oesophageal stricture typical of alkali ingestion" not the answer?

Oesophageal strictures are characteristic of alkali ingestion and do not explain visible gastric peristalsis.

Why is "Duodenal ulcer scarring from Helicobacter infection" not the answer?

Helicobacter is unrelated to the corrosive history.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: acid ingestion complication in Forensic Medicine. Alkalis cause liquefactive necrosis and injure the oesophagus, producing strictures. Post-prandial vomiting with visible peristalsis points to outlet obstruction.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Toxicology: acid ingestion complication?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.