Breast and endocrine surgery: radial scar: 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 and endocrine surgery: radial scar

Sample item

A screening mammogram shows a stellate lesion with radiating spicules and a lucent centre in a woman with no history of surgery or trauma. Core biopsy shows a radial scar with entrapped ducts and no atypia. What is usually advised?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Surgical excision because carcinoma may coexist

A radial scar is a benign sclerosing lesion that mimics carcinoma and can harbour atypia or malignancy that core biopsy misses, so surgical excision is generally advised. Mastectomy is excessive, and tamoxifen is not a treatment for it.

Option by option

  • A. Reassurance and routine screening

    Routine screening alone risks missing coexistent malignancy.

  • B. Tamoxifen

    Tamoxifen does not treat a radial scar.

  • C. Surgical excision because carcinoma may coexist (correct)

    Correct. Excision is advised since cancer can coexist and be missed by biopsy.

  • D. Mastectomy

    Mastectomy is excessive for a benign lesion.

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 C, Surgical excision because carcinoma may coexist. A radial scar is a benign sclerosing lesion that mimics carcinoma and can harbour atypia or malignancy that core biopsy misses, so surgical excision is generally advised.

Why is "Reassurance and routine screening" not the answer?

Routine screening alone risks missing coexistent malignancy.

Why is "Tamoxifen" not the answer?

Tamoxifen does not treat a radial scar.

Why is "Mastectomy" not the answer?

Mastectomy is excessive for a benign lesion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast and endocrine surgery: radial scar in General Surgery. Mastectomy is excessive, and tamoxifen is not a treatment for it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 and endocrine surgery: radial scar?

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.