Systemic pathology: bronchial carcinoid: 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 · Systemic pathology: bronchial carcinoid

Sample item

A 35-year-old non-smoking woman has recurrent haemoptysis and a polypoid endobronchial mass. Histology shows uniform cells in nests and ribbons with finely stippled chromatin, and scarce mitoses without necrosis. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Typical carcinoid tumour

Typical carcinoid is a low-grade neuroendocrine tumour of bronchial wall, often central, with organoid nests, salt-and-pepper chromatin and few mitoses. Small cell carcinoma has the same chromatin pattern but many mitoses and necrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Small cell carcinoma

    Small cell carcinoma is a high-grade tumour of smokers with abundant mitoses and necrosis.

  • B. Typical carcinoid tumour (correct)

    Correct. Organoid nests, stippled chromatin and very low mitotic activity indicate a typical carcinoid.

  • C. Adenoid cystic carcinoma

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma shows cribriform spaces with hyaline material, not neuroendocrine nests.

  • D. Pulmonary hamartoma

    A hamartoma consists of cartilage, fat and epithelium, not uniform neuroendocrine 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, Typical carcinoid tumour. Typical carcinoid is a low-grade neuroendocrine tumour of bronchial wall, often central, with organoid nests, salt-and-pepper chromatin and few mitoses.

Why is "Small cell carcinoma" not the answer?

Small cell carcinoma is a high-grade tumour of smokers with abundant mitoses and necrosis.

Why is "Adenoid cystic carcinoma" not the answer?

Adenoid cystic carcinoma shows cribriform spaces with hyaline material, not neuroendocrine nests.

Why is "Pulmonary hamartoma" not the answer?

A hamartoma consists of cartilage, fat and epithelium, not uniform neuroendocrine cells.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: bronchial carcinoid in Pathology. Small cell carcinoma has the same chromatin pattern but many mitoses and necrosis.

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 Systemic pathology: bronchial carcinoid?

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.