Breast and endocrine surgery: galactorrhoea: 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.

Try it

General Surgery · Breast and endocrine surgery: galactorrhoea

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has bilateral milky nipple discharge and secondary amenorrhoea. Breast examination and ultrasound are normal. What is the most appropriate initial investigation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Serum prolactin and a pregnancy test

Bilateral, milky, multi-duct discharge with menstrual disturbance suggests hyperprolactinaemia from a pituitary adenoma, drugs or hypothyroidism. After pregnancy is excluded, serum prolactin is measured, with thyroid function and pituitary imaging as needed.

Option by option

  • A. Ductography

    Ductography evaluates single-duct pathological discharge.

  • B. Serum prolactin and a pregnancy test (correct)

    Correct. Prolactin measurement is the key test for physiological milky discharge with amenorrhoea.

  • C. Core biopsy of the retroareolar area

    Biopsy has no role when the breast is normal.

  • D. Nipple discharge cytology

    Cytology is of limited value for milky bilateral discharge.

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 B, Serum prolactin and a pregnancy test. Bilateral, milky, multi-duct discharge with menstrual disturbance suggests hyperprolactinaemia from a pituitary adenoma, drugs or hypothyroidism.

Why is "Ductography" not the answer?

Ductography evaluates single-duct pathological discharge.

Why is "Core biopsy of the retroareolar area" not the answer?

Biopsy has no role when the breast is normal.

Why is "Nipple discharge cytology" not the answer?

Cytology is of limited value for milky bilateral discharge.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast and endocrine surgery: galactorrhoea in General Surgery. After pregnancy is excluded, serum prolactin is measured, with thyroid function and pituitary imaging as needed.

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 Breast and endocrine surgery: galactorrhoea?

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.