Gynaecological oncology: cervical screening: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Gynaecological oncology: cervical screening

Sample item

During colposcopy, an area of the cervix does not take up iodine and stays pale yellow after Lugol's application. What explains this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Abnormal epithelium has little glycogen

Normal mature squamous epithelium is rich in glycogen, which stains mahogany brown with iodine. Dysplastic or immature epithelium has little glycogen and does not stain, so Schiller test positivity guides the biopsy site. Columnar epithelium also does not stain.

Option by option

  • A. Keratin binds iodine avidly

    Iodine staining depends on glycogen, not on keratin.

  • B. Columnar epithelium is rich in glycogen

    Columnar epithelium lacks glycogen and remains unstained.

  • C. Abnormal epithelium has excess glycogen

    Excess glycogen would stain brown, not remain pale.

  • D. Abnormal epithelium has little glycogen (correct)

    Correct. Glycogen-poor tissue fails to take up iodine.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Abnormal epithelium has little glycogen. Normal mature squamous epithelium is rich in glycogen, which stains mahogany brown with iodine.

Why is "Keratin binds iodine avidly" not the answer?

Iodine staining depends on glycogen, not on keratin.

Why is "Columnar epithelium is rich in glycogen" not the answer?

Columnar epithelium lacks glycogen and remains unstained.

Why is "Abnormal epithelium has excess glycogen" not the answer?

Excess glycogen would stain brown, not remain pale.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gynaecological oncology: cervical screening in OBG. Dysplastic or immature epithelium has little glycogen and does not stain, so Schiller test positivity guides the biopsy site. Columnar epithelium also does not stain.

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 Gynaecological oncology: cervical screening?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.