Breast: BRCA mutation carrier: 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 · Breast: BRCA mutation carrier

Sample item

A 35-year-old BRCA1 carrier with a strong family history asks about risk-reduction. Which statement is accurate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is advised after childbearing

BRCA1 (chromosome 17) and BRCA2 (chromosome 13) mutations raise the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 tumours are frequently triple negative. Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy after childbearing and options such as bilateral mastectomy or intensive surveillance are offered.

Option by option

  • A. Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is advised after childbearing (correct)

    Correct. Oophorectomy lowers ovarian cancer risk and is advised once the family is complete.

  • B. BRCA1 tumours are usually hormone-receptor positive

    BRCA1 breast cancers are often triple negative.

  • C. BRCA1 is located on chromosome 13

    BRCA1 is on chromosome 17.

  • D. Carriers have no increased ovarian cancer risk

    Ovarian cancer risk is markedly raised.

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, Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is advised after childbearing. BRCA1 (chromosome 17) and BRCA2 (chromosome 13) mutations raise the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Why is "BRCA1 tumours are usually hormone-receptor positive" not the answer?

BRCA1 breast cancers are often triple negative.

Why is "BRCA1 is located on chromosome 13" not the answer?

BRCA1 is on chromosome 17.

Why is "Carriers have no increased ovarian cancer risk" not the answer?

Ovarian cancer risk is markedly raised.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast: BRCA mutation carrier in General Surgery. BRCA1 tumours are frequently triple negative. Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy after childbearing and options such as bilateral mastectomy or intensive surveillance are offered.

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 Breast: BRCA mutation carrier?

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.