Environmental health: Caplan syndrome: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Environmental health: Caplan syndrome

Sample item

A 58-year-old man who worked for 25 years in coal mines develops rheumatoid arthritis. His chest radiograph shows multiple well-defined rounded nodules, 0.5 to 5 cm in size, scattered through both lungs. Which condition is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Caplan syndrome

Caplan syndrome is the combination of rheumatoid arthritis with pneumoconiosis, classically in coal miners, producing multiple well-defined peripheral lung nodules. It is a rheumatoid pneumoconiosis.

Option by option

  • A. Mesothelioma

    Mesothelioma is a pleural tumour linked to asbestos.

  • B. Caplan syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Rheumatoid arthritis with multiple rounded lung nodules in a coal worker is Caplan syndrome.

  • C. Progressive massive fibrosis

    Progressive massive fibrosis produces large conglomerate upper-zone masses and is not linked to rheumatoid arthritis.

  • D. Silicotuberculosis

    Silicotuberculosis follows silica exposure and tuberculosis, which the stem does not describe.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Caplan syndrome. Caplan syndrome is the combination of rheumatoid arthritis with pneumoconiosis, classically in coal miners, producing multiple well-defined peripheral lung nodules.

Why is "Mesothelioma" not the answer?

Mesothelioma is a pleural tumour linked to asbestos.

Why is "Progressive massive fibrosis" not the answer?

Progressive massive fibrosis produces large conglomerate upper-zone masses and is not linked to rheumatoid arthritis.

Why is "Silicotuberculosis" not the answer?

Silicotuberculosis follows silica exposure and tuberculosis, which the stem does not describe.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Environmental health: Caplan syndrome in PSM. It is a rheumatoid pneumoconiosis.

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 Environmental health: Caplan syndrome?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.