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 78-year-old diabetic man has a hand X-ray showing pipe-stem calcification of the radial arteries. A biopsy shows calcium deposits in the muscular wall, with the intima spared and the lumen patent. Which entity is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis

Monckeberg sclerosis is calcification of the media of muscular arteries in the elderly. It does not narrow the lumen and rarely causes ischaemia, so it is a radiological curiosity.

Option by option

  • A. Giant cell arteritis

    Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous inflammation of the temporal artery wall with symptoms, not bland calcification.

  • B. Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis (correct)

    Correct. Medial calcification without intimal change or luminal narrowing is the hallmark.

  • C. Hyaline arteriolosclerosis

    Hyaline arteriolosclerosis involves small arterioles with pink hyaline thickening in diabetes and hypertension.

  • D. Atherosclerosis

    Atherosclerosis is an intimal plaque with lipid and a fibrous cap that narrows the lumen.

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 B, Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis. Monckeberg sclerosis is calcification of the media of muscular arteries in the elderly.

Why is "Giant cell arteritis" not the answer?

Giant cell arteritis is a granulomatous inflammation of the temporal artery wall with symptoms, not bland calcification.

Why is "Hyaline arteriolosclerosis" not the answer?

Hyaline arteriolosclerosis involves small arterioles with pink hyaline thickening in diabetes and hypertension.

Why is "Atherosclerosis" not the answer?

Atherosclerosis is an intimal plaque with lipid and a fibrous cap that narrows the lumen.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue in Pathology. It does not narrow the lumen and rarely causes ischaemia, so it is a radiological curiosity.

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 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.