Bone tumours: surgical margins: practice question

A Orthopaedics 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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Orthopaedics · Bone tumours: surgical margins

Sample item

In musculoskeletal oncology, what does a wide excision margin mean?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. En bloc removal with a cuff of normal tissue

A wide margin removes the tumour in one piece surrounded by a continuous cuff of normal tissue. A marginal margin passes through the reactive zone, an intralesional margin enters the tumour, and a radical margin removes the entire compartment.

Option by option

  • A. En bloc removal with a cuff of normal tissue (correct)

    Correct. The tumour is excised en bloc with normal tissue all around it.

  • B. Removal of the whole compartment or bone

    Removing the whole compartment or bone describes a radical margin.

  • C. Dissection through the reactive zone around the tumour

    Passing through the reactive zone describes a marginal margin.

  • D. Piecemeal removal from within the tumour

    Entering the tumour describes an intralesional margin, as in curettage.

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 Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, En bloc removal with a cuff of normal tissue. A wide margin removes the tumour in one piece surrounded by a continuous cuff of normal tissue.

Why is "Removal of the whole compartment or bone" not the answer?

Removing the whole compartment or bone describes a radical margin.

Why is "Dissection through the reactive zone around the tumour" not the answer?

Passing through the reactive zone describes a marginal margin.

Why is "Piecemeal removal from within the tumour" not the answer?

Entering the tumour describes an intralesional margin, as in curettage.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone tumours: surgical margins in Orthopaedics. A marginal margin passes through the reactive zone, an intralesional margin enters the tumour, and a radical margin removes the entire compartment.

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 Bone tumours: surgical margins?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics 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.