Hernia and abdominal wall: communicating hydrocele in infants: 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 · Hernia and abdominal wall: communicating hydrocele in infants

Sample item

A 10-month-old boy has a painless scrotal swelling that is smaller in the morning and larger by evening. It transilluminates brilliantly and the examiner can get above it. What is the underlying cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. A patent processus vaginalis

A swelling that varies in size through the day indicates communication with the peritoneal cavity through a patent processus vaginalis. Peritoneal fluid tracks into the tunica vaginalis when the child is upright. Since the processus may close with time, many are observed, while persistence or a hernia component is treated by ligation.

Option by option

  • A. Filarial lymphatic obstruction

    Filarial obstruction causes a hydrocele in endemic adults, not an infant with a diurnal change.

  • B. Defective absorption by the tunica vaginalis

    Defective absorption causes a non-communicating hydrocele that does not vary through the day.

  • C. A patent processus vaginalis (correct)

    Correct. A patent processus vaginalis lets peritoneal fluid pass into the scrotum, giving a size that changes with posture.

  • D. Excess fluid from a testicular tumour

    A tumour does not give a brilliantly transilluminant swelling that varies in size.

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, A patent processus vaginalis. A swelling that varies in size through the day indicates communication with the peritoneal cavity through a patent processus vaginalis.

Why is "Filarial lymphatic obstruction" not the answer?

Filarial obstruction causes a hydrocele in endemic adults, not an infant with a diurnal change.

Why is "Defective absorption by the tunica vaginalis" not the answer?

Defective absorption causes a non-communicating hydrocele that does not vary through the day.

Why is "Excess fluid from a testicular tumour" not the answer?

A tumour does not give a brilliantly transilluminant swelling that varies in size.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hernia and abdominal wall: communicating hydrocele in infants in General Surgery. Peritoneal fluid tracks into the tunica vaginalis when the child is upright. Since the processus may close with time, many are observed, while persistence or a hernia component is treated by ligation.

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 Hernia and abdominal wall: communicating hydrocele in infants?

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.