Biliary: choledochal cyst: practice question

A General Surgery 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

General Surgery · Biliary: choledochal cyst

Sample item

An infant has jaundice and an abdominal mass, and MRCP shows fusiform dilatation of the common bile duct. What is the treatment of choice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Complete cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy

Todani type I is the commonest choledochal cyst. Complete excision is essential because remnant cyst epithelium carries a risk of cholangiocarcinoma, and biliary continuity is restored by a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Internal drainage alone leaves the malignant risk.

Option by option

  • A. Complete cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (correct)

    Correct. Excision removes the premalignant cyst.

  • B. Observation

    Untreated cysts cause cholangitis, stones and cancer.

  • C. Liver transplantation first

    Transplantation is rarely required.

  • D. Cystoenterostomy drainage alone

    Drainage alone leaves the cyst wall in place.

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 Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Complete cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Todani type I is the commonest choledochal cyst.

Why is "Observation" not the answer?

Untreated cysts cause cholangitis, stones and cancer.

Why is "Liver transplantation first" not the answer?

Transplantation is rarely required.

Why is "Cystoenterostomy drainage alone" not the answer?

Drainage alone leaves the cyst wall in place.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Biliary: choledochal cyst in General Surgery. Complete excision is essential because remnant cyst epithelium carries a risk of cholangiocarcinoma, and biliary continuity is restored by a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Internal drainage alone leaves the malignant risk.

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 Biliary: choledochal cyst?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.