Systemic pathology: mucinous cystic neoplasm of pancreas: 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: mucinous cystic neoplasm of pancreas

Sample item

A 42-year-old woman has a 6 cm multiloculated cyst in the pancreatic tail. The cyst fluid is thick and mucinous, and the wall is lined by columnar mucin-secreting epithelium over dense ovarian-type stroma. The cyst does not communicate with the pancreatic duct. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Mucinous cystic neoplasm

Mucinous cystic neoplasms occur almost exclusively in women, usually in the body or tail, and have ovarian-type stroma. They are premalignant and are resected. Serous cystadenomas contain glycogen-rich clear cells and are benign.

Option by option

  • A. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

    Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm grows in the ducts and communicates with the duct system.

  • B. Pancreatic pseudocyst

    A pseudocyst has a wall of granulation tissue and no epithelial lining.

  • C. Mucinous cystic neoplasm (correct)

    Correct. Mucin-lined cyst with ovarian-type stroma and no duct communication is a mucinous cystic neoplasm.

  • D. Serous cystadenoma

    Serous cystadenoma has thin watery fluid and cuboidal glycogen-rich clear cells without ovarian stroma.

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 C, Mucinous cystic neoplasm. Mucinous cystic neoplasms occur almost exclusively in women, usually in the body or tail, and have ovarian-type stroma.

Why is "Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm" not the answer?

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm grows in the ducts and communicates with the duct system.

Why is "Pancreatic pseudocyst" not the answer?

A pseudocyst has a wall of granulation tissue and no epithelial lining.

Why is "Serous cystadenoma" not the answer?

Serous cystadenoma has thin watery fluid and cuboidal glycogen-rich clear cells without ovarian stroma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: mucinous cystic neoplasm of pancreas in Pathology. They are premalignant and are resected. Serous cystadenomas contain glycogen-rich clear cells and are benign.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: mucinous cystic neoplasm of pancreas?

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.