Urology: renal cell carcinoma: 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 · Urology: renal cell carcinoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old has an incidentally found 3 cm enhancing solid mass confined to the upper pole of the right kidney, and the other kidney is normal. Which operation is preferred?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Partial nephrectomy

Small localised renal tumours are treated by nephron-sparing partial nephrectomy where feasible, giving cancer control equal to radical nephrectomy with better renal function. Cytoreductive surgery is for metastatic disease. A solid enhancing mass is not drained.

Option by option

  • A. Radical nephrectomy with adrenalectomy

    Radical nephrectomy with adrenalectomy is unnecessary for a small peripheral tumour.

  • B. Percutaneous drainage

    Drainage is for abscess or cyst and not a solid carcinoma.

  • C. Cytoreductive nephrectomy

    Cytoreductive nephrectomy is for metastatic disease.

  • D. Partial nephrectomy (correct)

    Correct. Nephron-sparing surgery suits a small localised tumour.

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 D, Partial nephrectomy. Small localised renal tumours are treated by nephron-sparing partial nephrectomy where feasible, giving cancer control equal to radical nephrectomy with better renal function.

Why is "Radical nephrectomy with adrenalectomy" not the answer?

Radical nephrectomy with adrenalectomy is unnecessary for a small peripheral tumour.

Why is "Percutaneous drainage" not the answer?

Drainage is for abscess or cyst and not a solid carcinoma.

Why is "Cytoreductive nephrectomy" not the answer?

Cytoreductive nephrectomy is for metastatic disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urology: renal cell carcinoma in General Surgery. Cytoreductive surgery is for metastatic disease. A solid enhancing mass is not drained.

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 Urology: renal cell carcinoma?

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.