Paediatric surgery: infantile haemangioma: 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: infantile haemangioma

Sample item

A 3-month-old girl has a rapidly enlarging bright red raised lesion on the upper eyelid that is starting to close the eye. What is the preferred treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Oral propranolol

Infantile haemangiomas grow rapidly in the first months and then involute over years. Those threatening function, such as periocular lesions that risk amblyopia, or ulcerating or life-threatening lesions, are treated with oral propranolol, now first-line, with monitoring for hypoglycaemia and bradycardia. They express GLUT1.

Option by option

  • A. Systemic ciclosporin

    Ciclosporin is not used for haemangioma.

  • B. Observation as it will always resolve

    Observation risks amblyopia from a lesion obstructing the visual axis.

  • C. Oral propranolol (correct)

    Correct. Propranolol shrinks periocular lesions and protects vision.

  • D. Radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy is not used in infants because of long-term risks.

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.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Oral propranolol. Infantile haemangiomas grow rapidly in the first months and then involute over years.

Why is "Systemic ciclosporin" not the answer?

Ciclosporin is not used for haemangioma.

Why is "Observation as it will always resolve" not the answer?

Observation risks amblyopia from a lesion obstructing the visual axis.

Why is "Radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy is not used in infants because of long-term risks.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: infantile haemangioma in General Surgery. Those threatening function, such as periocular lesions that risk amblyopia, or ulcerating or life-threatening lesions, are treated with oral propranolol, now first-line, with monitoring for hypoglycaemia and bradycardia. They express GLUT1.

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: infantile haemangioma?

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.