Environmental health: occupational cancer from vinyl chloride: practice question

A PSM 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.

Try it

PSM · Environmental health: occupational cancer from vinyl chloride

Sample item

A worker in a PVC polymerisation plant who cleaned reactor vessels for 20 years is diagnosed with a rare vascular tumour of the liver. Which agent is implicated?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Vinyl chloride monomer

Vinyl chloride monomer exposure is associated with hepatic angiosarcoma. Benzidine and other aromatic amines cause bladder cancer, asbestos causes mesothelioma and lung cancer, and arsenic causes skin and lung cancers. Closed processes and monitoring are the control measures.

Option by option

  • A. Vinyl chloride monomer (correct)

    Correct. Vinyl chloride is a recognised cause of hepatic angiosarcoma.

  • B. Asbestos

    Asbestos is associated with mesothelioma and lung cancer.

  • C. Benzidine

    Benzidine is associated with bladder cancer.

  • D. Arsenic

    Arsenic is associated with skin and lung cancer.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Vinyl chloride monomer. Vinyl chloride monomer exposure is associated with hepatic angiosarcoma.

Why is "Asbestos" not the answer?

Asbestos is associated with mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Why is "Benzidine" not the answer?

Benzidine is associated with bladder cancer.

Why is "Arsenic" not the answer?

Arsenic is associated with skin and lung cancer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Environmental health: occupational cancer from vinyl chloride in PSM. Benzidine and other aromatic amines cause bladder cancer, asbestos causes mesothelioma and lung cancer, and arsenic causes skin and lung cancers. Closed processes and monitoring are the control measures.

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 Environmental health: occupational cancer from vinyl chloride?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.