Breast: T staging: 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 · Breast: T staging

Sample item

A breast carcinoma measures 3.5 cm in greatest dimension with no chest wall or skin involvement. What is the T category?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. T2

In TNM staging T1 is up to 2 cm, T2 is above 2 cm to 5 cm, and T3 is above 5 cm. T4 refers to chest wall invasion, skin ulceration or satellite nodules, or inflammatory carcinoma. Staging also incorporates nodal and metastatic status, and receptor and grade information.

Option by option

  • A. T3

    T3 exceeds 5 cm.

  • B. T4

    T4 requires local extension.

  • C. T1

    T1 is 2 cm or less.

  • D. T2 (correct)

    Correct. A size of 2 to 5 cm is T2.

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 D, T2. In TNM staging T1 is up to 2 cm, T2 is above 2 cm to 5 cm, and T3 is above 5 cm.

Why is "T3" not the answer?

T3 exceeds 5 cm.

Why is "T4" not the answer?

T4 requires local extension.

Why is "T1" not the answer?

T1 is 2 cm or less.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast: T staging in General Surgery. T4 refers to chest wall invasion, skin ulceration or satellite nodules, or inflammatory carcinoma. Staging also incorporates nodal and metastatic status, and receptor and grade information.

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: T staging?

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.