Cell injury: gangrene: practice question

A Pathology 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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Pathology · Cell injury: gangrene

Sample item

A 62-year-old diabetic man has a swollen, black, foul-smelling foot with blisters and poorly defined demarcation. There is no crepitus and a radiograph shows no soft-tissue gas. Which type of necrosis best describes the lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Wet gangrene: coagulative necrosis modified by bacterial liquefaction

Gangrene is necrosis of a limb with superimposed putrefaction. In wet gangrene bacterial infection and neutrophil enzymes add liquefaction to the coagulative necrosis, giving swelling, foul odour and no clear line of demarcation, and it spreads rapidly. Dry gangrene is shrunken and dry with a sharp line, and gas gangrene shows crepitus and gas in tissue.

Option by option

  • A. Dry gangrene: pure coagulative necrosis without infection

    Dry gangrene is shrivelled and black with a sharp line of demarcation and little infection.

  • B. Gas gangrene due to clostridial infection

    Gas gangrene requires gas production by Clostridium, which is excluded by absent crepitus and radiograph.

  • C. Wet gangrene: coagulative necrosis modified by bacterial liquefaction (correct)

    Correct. Infected, swollen and foul-smelling tissue with poor demarcation is wet gangrene.

  • D. Fat necrosis with saponification

    Fat necrosis occurs in pancreatitis and breast or adipose injury, not an ischaemic foot.

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 Pathology questions

Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is C, Wet gangrene: coagulative necrosis modified by bacterial liquefaction. Gangrene is necrosis of a limb with superimposed putrefaction.

Why is "Dry gangrene: pure coagulative necrosis without infection" not the answer?

Dry gangrene is shrivelled and black with a sharp line of demarcation and little infection.

Why is "Gas gangrene due to clostridial infection" not the answer?

Gas gangrene requires gas production by Clostridium, which is excluded by absent crepitus and radiograph.

Why is "Fat necrosis with saponification" not the answer?

Fat necrosis occurs in pancreatitis and breast or adipose injury, not an ischaemic foot.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cell injury: gangrene in Pathology. In wet gangrene bacterial infection and neutrophil enzymes add liquefaction to the coagulative necrosis, giving swelling, foul odour and no clear line of demarcation, and it spreads rapidly. Dry gangrene is shrunken and dry with a sharp line, and gas gangrene shows crepitus and gas in tissue.

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 Cell injury: gangrene?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology 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.