Neoplasia: tumour doubling and detection: practice question

A Pathology 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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Pathology · Neoplasia: tumour doubling and detection

Sample item

A tumour begins from a single transformed cell. Roughly how many doublings are needed before it reaches about 1 g (around 10^9 cells) and becomes clinically detectable?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. About 30

Thirty doublings give about 10^9 cells (1 g). Only about 10 more doublings are needed to reach 10^12 cells (1 kg), which is close to a lethal burden. Much of a tumour's life is therefore clinically silent.

Option by option

  • A. About 100

    One hundred doublings is far beyond any viable tumour burden.

  • B. About 30 (correct)

    Correct. Thirty doublings give around a billion cells.

  • C. About 60

    Sixty doublings would give a vastly larger, incompatible mass.

  • D. About 10

    Ten doublings give only about a thousand cells.

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 Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is B, About 30. Thirty doublings give about 10^9 cells (1 g).

Why is "About 100" not the answer?

One hundred doublings is far beyond any viable tumour burden.

Why is "About 60" not the answer?

Sixty doublings would give a vastly larger, incompatible mass.

Why is "About 10" not the answer?

Ten doublings give only about a thousand cells.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neoplasia: tumour doubling and detection in Pathology. Only about 10 more doublings are needed to reach 10^12 cells (1 kg), which is close to a lethal burden. Much of a tumour's life is therefore clinically silent.

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 Neoplasia: tumour doubling and detection?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology 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.