Systemic pathology: juvenile polyp: 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: juvenile polyp

Sample item

A 4-year-old boy has painless rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy shows a single smooth, pedunculated 1.5 cm red polyp. Histology shows cystically dilated, mucus-filled glands in an inflamed lamina propria without dysplasia. What is the nature of this lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hamartomatous polyp with negligible malignant potential

A sporadic juvenile polyp is a hamartomatous lesion of the rectum in young children, with cystically dilated glands and abundant inflamed stroma. It is benign, and simple removal is curative, whereas juvenile polyposis syndrome carries a risk of cancer.

Option by option

  • A. Adenomatous polyp with high-grade dysplasia

    Adenomas show dysplastic epithelium and are rare in young children without polyposis.

  • B. Hamartomatous polyp with negligible malignant potential (correct)

    Correct. A solitary juvenile polyp is hamartomatous and carries negligible cancer risk.

  • C. Inflammatory pseudopolyp of ulcerative colitis

    Pseudopolyps occur in extensive ulcerative colitis, with a history of bloody diarrhoea and mucosal ulceration.

  • D. Serrated hyperplastic polyp

    Hyperplastic polyps have serrated crypts and are small sessile lesions in older adults.

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, Hamartomatous polyp with negligible malignant potential. A sporadic juvenile polyp is a hamartomatous lesion of the rectum in young children, with cystically dilated glands and abundant inflamed stroma.

Why is "Adenomatous polyp with high-grade dysplasia" not the answer?

Adenomas show dysplastic epithelium and are rare in young children without polyposis.

Why is "Inflammatory pseudopolyp of ulcerative colitis" not the answer?

Pseudopolyps occur in extensive ulcerative colitis, with a history of bloody diarrhoea and mucosal ulceration.

Why is "Serrated hyperplastic polyp" not the answer?

Hyperplastic polyps have serrated crypts and are small sessile lesions in older adults.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: juvenile polyp in Pathology. It is benign, and simple removal is curative, whereas juvenile polyposis syndrome carries a risk of cancer.

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: juvenile polyp?

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.