Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue: practice question

A Pathology 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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Pathology · Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue

Sample item

A previously healthy 45-year-old develops fever and cough, and within two weeks needs mechanical ventilation. CT shows bilateral ground-glass opacities. Lung biopsy shows hyaline membranes and fibroblast proliferation in the airspace walls, with no cause found. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Acute interstitial pneumonia

Acute interstitial pneumonia (Hamman-Rich) is idiopathic diffuse alveolar damage with an abrupt onset and high mortality. The hyaline membranes and organising phase are the same as in ARDS, but no trigger is found.

Option by option

  • A. Desquamative interstitial pneumonia

    Desquamative pneumonia shows alveoli filled with pigmented macrophages in smokers, with a subacute course.

  • B. Usual interstitial pneumonia

    Usual interstitial pneumonia is a chronic process with subpleural honeycombing and fibroblastic foci.

  • C. Acute interstitial pneumonia (correct)

    Correct. Rapid respiratory failure with idiopathic diffuse alveolar damage defines this disease.

  • D. Cryptogenic organising pneumonia

    Organising pneumonia shows intraluminal plugs of granulation tissue, not hyaline membranes.

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 Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is C, Acute interstitial pneumonia. Acute interstitial pneumonia (Hamman-Rich) is idiopathic diffuse alveolar damage with an abrupt onset and high mortality.

Why is "Desquamative interstitial pneumonia" not the answer?

Desquamative pneumonia shows alveoli filled with pigmented macrophages in smokers, with a subacute course.

Why is "Usual interstitial pneumonia" not the answer?

Usual interstitial pneumonia is a chronic process with subpleural honeycombing and fibroblastic foci.

Why is "Cryptogenic organising pneumonia" not the answer?

Organising pneumonia shows intraluminal plugs of granulation tissue, not hyaline membranes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue in Pathology. The hyaline membranes and organising phase are the same as in ARDS, but no trigger is found.

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 Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology 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.