Haematology and oncology: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: practice question

A General Medicine 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.

Try it

General Medicine · Haematology and oncology: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Sample item

A 58-year-old man has several years of scaly patches and plaques on the trunk, later progressing to generalised erythroderma. Skin biopsy shows epidermal collections of atypical lymphocytes, and the blood film shows cells with cerebriform nuclei. Which cell lineage is involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. CD4-positive T cells

Mycosis fungoides and its leukaemic form, Sezary syndrome, are cutaneous T-cell lymphomas of mature CD4-positive helper T cells. The epidermal collections are Pautrier microabscesses and the circulating cells are Sezary cells.

Option by option

  • A. CD4-positive T cells (correct)

    Correct. These lymphomas arise from CD4-positive helper T cells.

  • B. Plasma cells

    Plasma cell neoplasms present with myeloma features and an M-protein.

  • C. Natural killer cells

    NK cell lymphomas are rare and typically nasal, with angiocentric necrosis.

  • D. CD20-positive B cells

    B cells give nodal or extranodal B-cell lymphomas with CD20 expression.

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 Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, CD4-positive T cells. Mycosis fungoides and its leukaemic form, Sezary syndrome, are cutaneous T-cell lymphomas of mature CD4-positive helper T cells.

Why is "Plasma cells" not the answer?

Plasma cell neoplasms present with myeloma features and an M-protein.

Why is "Natural killer cells" not the answer?

NK cell lymphomas are rare and typically nasal, with angiocentric necrosis.

Why is "CD20-positive B cells" not the answer?

B cells give nodal or extranodal B-cell lymphomas with CD20 expression.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology and oncology: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in General Medicine. The epidermal collections are Pautrier microabscesses and the circulating cells are Sezary cells.

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 Haematology and oncology: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.