Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: serous cystadenoma: 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 · Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: serous cystadenoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old woman has an incidental 4 cm pancreatic cyst. CT shows a cluster of many tiny cysts with a central stellate scar and calcification. Cyst fluid is low in CEA. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Serous cystadenoma

Serous cystadenoma is a benign lesion composed of numerous small glycogen-rich cysts with a central scar. It can be observed unless symptomatic. Mucinous cystic neoplasms are larger unilocular or septated cysts with high CEA and malignant potential.

Option by option

  • A. Pancreatic pseudocyst

    A pseudocyst follows pancreatitis and has no scar or microcystic architecture.

  • B. Mucinous cystic neoplasm

    Mucinous cystic neoplasms are macrocystic with high CEA and ovarian-type stroma.

  • C. Serous cystadenoma (correct)

    Correct. A microcystic honeycomb with a central scar and low CEA is typical.

  • D. Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm

    Solid pseudopapillary tumours are solid-cystic masses in young women.

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 Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Serous cystadenoma. Serous cystadenoma is a benign lesion composed of numerous small glycogen-rich cysts with a central scar.

Why is "Pancreatic pseudocyst" not the answer?

A pseudocyst follows pancreatitis and has no scar or microcystic architecture.

Why is "Mucinous cystic neoplasm" not the answer?

Mucinous cystic neoplasms are macrocystic with high CEA and ovarian-type stroma.

Why is "Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm" not the answer?

Solid pseudopapillary tumours are solid-cystic masses in young women.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: serous cystadenoma in General Surgery. It can be observed unless symptomatic. Mucinous cystic neoplasms are larger unilocular or septated cysts with high CEA and malignant potential.

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 Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: serous cystadenoma?

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.