Urology: bladder pain syndrome: 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 · Urology: bladder pain syndrome

Sample item

A 45-year-old woman has chronic suprapubic pain relieved by voiding, urgency and nocturia, with sterile urine cultures. Cystoscopy under hydrodistension shows petechial haemorrhages and a reddish mucosal patch. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis presents with suprapubic pain that is relieved by voiding, frequency and sterile urine. Cystoscopy with hydrodistension shows glomerulations and, in some patients, Hunner lesions. Biopsy is used to exclude carcinoma in situ.

Option by option

  • A. Carcinoma in situ of the bladder

    Carcinoma in situ usually causes irritative symptoms with positive cytology and needs exclusion by biopsy.

  • B. Interstitial cystitis (correct)

    Correct. Pain relieved by voiding with sterile urine and glomerulations suggests interstitial cystitis.

  • C. Radiation cystitis

    Radiation cystitis requires prior pelvic radiotherapy, which is absent.

  • D. Tuberculous cystitis

    Tuberculous cystitis shows sterile pyuria and a contracted bladder with a history of renal tuberculosis.

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 B, Interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis presents with suprapubic pain that is relieved by voiding, frequency and sterile urine.

Why is "Carcinoma in situ of the bladder" not the answer?

Carcinoma in situ usually causes irritative symptoms with positive cytology and needs exclusion by biopsy.

Why is "Radiation cystitis" not the answer?

Radiation cystitis requires prior pelvic radiotherapy, which is absent.

Why is "Tuberculous cystitis" not the answer?

Tuberculous cystitis shows sterile pyuria and a contracted bladder with a history of renal tuberculosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urology: bladder pain syndrome in General Surgery. Cystoscopy with hydrodistension shows glomerulations and, in some patients, Hunner lesions. Biopsy is used to exclude carcinoma in situ.

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 Urology: bladder pain syndrome?

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.