Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: mucocele of the gallbladder: 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: mucocele of the gallbladder

Sample item

A 70-year-old woman has a smooth, non-tender, palpable gallbladder with no fever or jaundice. Ultrasound shows a distended gallbladder filled with clear mucoid fluid and an impacted stone in the neck. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Mucocele of the gallbladder

A stone impacted in Hartmann pouch or the cystic duct without infection causes a sterile mucocele (hydrops): the gallbladder fills with mucus secreted by the mucosa after bile is resorbed. It is non-tender, and cholecystectomy is advised because of the risk of infection.

Option by option

  • A. Carcinoma of the gallbladder

    Carcinoma presents with a hard irregular mass or jaundice rather than a smooth mucoid gallbladder.

  • B. Acute calculous cholecystitis

    Acute cholecystitis is painful with fever and a positive Murphy sign.

  • C. Mucocele of the gallbladder (correct)

    Correct. A painless distended gallbladder with clear mucoid contents behind an impacted stone is a mucocele.

  • D. Empyema of the gallbladder

    Empyema contains pus and presents with fever, toxicity and tenderness.

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 C, Mucocele of the gallbladder. A stone impacted in Hartmann pouch or the cystic duct without infection causes a sterile mucocele (hydrops): the gallbladder fills with mucus secreted by the mucosa after bile is resorbed.

Why is "Carcinoma of the gallbladder" not the answer?

Carcinoma presents with a hard irregular mass or jaundice rather than a smooth mucoid gallbladder.

Why is "Acute calculous cholecystitis" not the answer?

Acute cholecystitis is painful with fever and a positive Murphy sign.

Why is "Empyema of the gallbladder" not the answer?

Empyema contains pus and presents with fever, toxicity and tenderness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: mucocele of the gallbladder in General Surgery. It is non-tender, and cholecystectomy is advised because of the risk of infection.

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: mucocele of the gallbladder?

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.