Oncology: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Oncology: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Sample item

A 60-year-old man has a rapidly enlarging neck node, raised LDH and a biopsy showing sheets of large CD20-positive B cells. Which regimen is standard treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. R-CHOP

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the commonest adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and R-CHOP, which is rituximab (anti-CD20) with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone, is standard. ABVD treats Hodgkin lymphoma. Imatinib treats CML, and ATRA with arsenic treats acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

Option by option

  • A. All-trans retinoic acid with arsenic trioxide

    ATRA with arsenic is for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

  • B. R-CHOP (correct)

    Correct. R-CHOP is first-line for DLBCL.

  • C. ABVD

    ABVD is for Hodgkin lymphoma.

  • D. Imatinib

    Imatinib targets BCR-ABL in CML.

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 General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is B, R-CHOP. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the commonest adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and R-CHOP, which is rituximab (anti-CD20) with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone, is standard.

Why is "All-trans retinoic acid with arsenic trioxide" not the answer?

ATRA with arsenic is for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

Why is "ABVD" not the answer?

ABVD is for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Why is "Imatinib" not the answer?

Imatinib targets BCR-ABL in CML.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oncology: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in General Medicine. ABVD treats Hodgkin lymphoma. Imatinib treats CML, and ATRA with arsenic treats acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

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 Oncology: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.