Early pregnancy: Arias-Stella reaction: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Early pregnancy: Arias-Stella reaction

Sample item

Endometrial curettage in a woman with suspected ectopic pregnancy shows atypical hypersecretory glands with enlarged hyperchromatic nuclei but no villi. What is this finding?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Arias-Stella reaction

The Arias-Stella reaction is a hormonally induced change of endometrial glands with large atypical nuclei, seen in ectopic and intrauterine pregnancy. The absence of chorionic villi in curettings supports ectopic pregnancy. It should not be mistaken for malignancy.

Option by option

  • A. Atrophic endometrium

    Atrophic endometrium shows thin inactive glands.

  • B. Endometrial adenocarcinoma

    Carcinoma has invasion and architectural complexity, not secretory features in this clinical context.

  • C. Hydatidiform mole

    A mole shows villous oedema and trophoblastic proliferation.

  • D. Arias-Stella reaction (correct)

    Correct. It is a benign pregnancy-related reaction.

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 OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Arias-Stella reaction. The Arias-Stella reaction is a hormonally induced change of endometrial glands with large atypical nuclei, seen in ectopic and intrauterine pregnancy.

Why is "Atrophic endometrium" not the answer?

Atrophic endometrium shows thin inactive glands.

Why is "Endometrial adenocarcinoma" not the answer?

Carcinoma has invasion and architectural complexity, not secretory features in this clinical context.

Why is "Hydatidiform mole" not the answer?

A mole shows villous oedema and trophoblastic proliferation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Early pregnancy: Arias-Stella reaction in OBG. The absence of chorionic villi in curettings supports ectopic pregnancy. It should not be mistaken for malignancy.

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 Early pregnancy: Arias-Stella reaction?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.