Oncology: soft tissue sarcoma: 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.

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General Surgery · Oncology: soft tissue sarcoma

Sample item

A 50-year-old has a deep 8 cm thigh mass diagnosed as high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Which statement is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. It spreads mainly by the bloodstream to the lungs and needs wide excision with a margin

Soft tissue sarcomas spread haematogenously, most commonly to the lungs, so chest CT is part of staging. The pseudocapsule contains tumour cells, so enucleation is inadequate and wide local excision with limb salvage plus radiotherapy is used. Nodal spread is unusual except in a few histologies.

Option by option

  • A. It spreads mainly by the bloodstream to the lungs and needs wide excision with a margin (correct)

    Correct. Haematogenous spread and wide excision are the principles.

  • B. Enucleation along the pseudocapsule is adequate

    Enucleation leaves microscopic tumour and recurs.

  • C. Chest imaging is unnecessary

    Chest CT is needed for staging.

  • D. It spreads mainly to regional lymph nodes

    Nodal spread is uncommon.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, It spreads mainly by the bloodstream to the lungs and needs wide excision with a margin. Soft tissue sarcomas spread haematogenously, most commonly to the lungs, so chest CT is part of staging.

Why is "Enucleation along the pseudocapsule is adequate" not the answer?

Enucleation leaves microscopic tumour and recurs.

Why is "Chest imaging is unnecessary" not the answer?

Chest CT is needed for staging.

Why is "It spreads mainly to regional lymph nodes" not the answer?

Nodal spread is uncommon.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oncology: soft tissue sarcoma in General Surgery. The pseudocapsule contains tumour cells, so enucleation is inadequate and wide local excision with limb salvage plus radiotherapy is used. Nodal spread is unusual except in a few histologies.

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: soft tissue sarcoma?

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.