Paediatric surgery: cystic hygroma: 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 · Paediatric surgery: cystic hygroma

Sample item

A newborn has a soft, fluctuant, brilliantly transilluminant swelling in the posterior triangle of the neck, not moving with swallowing. What is the lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cystic hygroma (lymphatic malformation)

Cystic hygroma is a multiloculated lymphatic malformation from sequestered embryonic lymph sacs, typically in the posterior triangle of the neck. It is soft, compressible and brilliantly transilluminant. It may be associated with chromosomal anomalies such as Turner syndrome; treatment is sclerotherapy (for example OK-432) or excision.

Option by option

  • A. Cystic hygroma (lymphatic malformation) (correct)

    Correct. A soft transilluminant posterior triangle mass is typical.

  • B. Sternomastoid tumour

    A sternomastoid tumour is a firm, non-transilluminant mass within the muscle.

  • C. Thyroglossal cyst

    A thyroglossal cyst is midline and moves with swallowing and tongue protrusion.

  • D. Branchial cyst

    A branchial cyst lies at the anterior border of sternomastoid in young adults.

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 A, Cystic hygroma (lymphatic malformation). Cystic hygroma is a multiloculated lymphatic malformation from sequestered embryonic lymph sacs, typically in the posterior triangle of the neck.

Why is "Sternomastoid tumour" not the answer?

A sternomastoid tumour is a firm, non-transilluminant mass within the muscle.

Why is "Thyroglossal cyst" not the answer?

A thyroglossal cyst is midline and moves with swallowing and tongue protrusion.

Why is "Branchial cyst" not the answer?

A branchial cyst lies at the anterior border of sternomastoid in young adults.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: cystic hygroma in General Surgery. It is soft, compressible and brilliantly transilluminant. It may be associated with chromosomal anomalies such as Turner syndrome; treatment is sclerotherapy (for example OK-432) or excision.

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 Paediatric surgery: cystic hygroma?

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.