Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: location of gastrinoma: 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: location of gastrinoma

Sample item

A patient with recurrent ulcers and a confirmed gastrinoma needs imaging. In which location are most sporadic gastrinomas found?

ADuodenal wall within the gastrinoma triangleBGastric antrumCTail of the pancreasDJejunal mesentery

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Duodenal wall within the gastrinoma triangle

Most gastrinomas lie in the gastrinoma (Passaro) triangle bounded by the junction of the cystic and common bile ducts, the second and third parts of the duodenum, and the neck and body of the pancreas. The duodenum is the most frequent site, and the tumours are often small.

Option by option

A. Duodenal wall within the gastrinoma triangle (correct)
Correct. Most arise in the duodenal wall within the triangle.
B. Gastric antrum
The antrum contains G cells, but gastrinomas do not typically arise there.
C. Tail of the pancreas
The pancreatic tail is a less common site than the head and duodenum.
D. Jejunal mesentery
The jejunal mesentery is not a typical primary site.

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.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Duodenal wall within the gastrinoma triangle. Most gastrinomas lie in the gastrinoma (Passaro) triangle bounded by the junction of the cystic and common bile ducts, the second and third parts of the duodenum, and the neck and body of the pancreas.

Why is "Gastric antrum" not the answer?

The antrum contains G cells, but gastrinomas do not typically arise there.

Why is "Tail of the pancreas" not the answer?

The pancreatic tail is a less common site than the head and duodenum.

Why is "Jejunal mesentery" not the answer?

The jejunal mesentery is not a typical primary site.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: location of gastrinoma in General Surgery. The duodenum is the most frequent site, and the tumours are often small.

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: location of gastrinoma?

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.