Neurology: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: 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.

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General Medicine · Neurology: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Sample item

A 24-year-old woman has two weeks of agitation, hallucinations and insomnia, followed by seizures, orofacial dyskinesias and autonomic instability. CSF shows lymphocytic pleocytosis. Which tumour should be sought?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ovarian teratoma

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis typically affects young women and often is associated with ovarian teratoma. Tumour removal with immunotherapy improves outcome. Other paraneoplastic encephalitides are linked to other tumours.

Option by option

  • A. Ovarian teratoma (correct)

    Correct. Ovarian teratoma is the classic tumour with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies.

  • B. Small cell lung carcinoma

    Small cell lung cancer is linked to anti-Hu limbic encephalitis.

  • C. Breast carcinoma

    Breast cancer is linked to anti-Yo cerebellar degeneration.

  • D. Thymoma

    Thymoma is associated with myasthenia gravis.

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, Ovarian teratoma. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis typically affects young women and often is associated with ovarian teratoma.

Why is "Small cell lung carcinoma" not the answer?

Small cell lung cancer is linked to anti-Hu limbic encephalitis.

Why is "Breast carcinoma" not the answer?

Breast cancer is linked to anti-Yo cerebellar degeneration.

Why is "Thymoma" not the answer?

Thymoma is associated with myasthenia gravis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neurology: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in General Medicine. Tumour removal with immunotherapy improves outcome. Other paraneoplastic encephalitides are linked to other tumours.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Neurology: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis?

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.