Haematology: 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 · Haematology

Sample item

Biopsy of a mediastinal mass shows small, regressed germinal centres with concentric onion-skin mantle zones, and a vessel penetrating radially into a follicle. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Castleman disease, hyaline-vascular type

The hyaline-vascular variant of Castleman disease shows lollipop follicles with concentric mantle layers and radial vessels. It is usually a localised, benign lymphoproliferation.

Option by option

  • A. Castleman disease, hyaline-vascular type (correct)

    Correct. Onion-skin mantles with radial vessels are the hyaline-vascular pattern.

  • B. Follicular lymphoma

    Follicular lymphoma shows crowded neoplastic follicles that lack mantle zones and are BCL2 positive.

  • C. Thymoma

    Thymoma shows thymic epithelial cells with lymphocytes and not follicles with hyalinised vessels.

  • D. Mantle cell lymphoma

    Mantle cell lymphoma is a monotonous cyclin D1 positive infiltrate, not a regressed follicle.

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 Pathology questions

Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is A, Castleman disease, hyaline-vascular type. The hyaline-vascular variant of Castleman disease shows lollipop follicles with concentric mantle layers and radial vessels.

Why is "Follicular lymphoma" not the answer?

Follicular lymphoma shows crowded neoplastic follicles that lack mantle zones and are BCL2 positive.

Why is "Thymoma" not the answer?

Thymoma shows thymic epithelial cells with lymphocytes and not follicles with hyalinised vessels.

Why is "Mantle cell lymphoma" not the answer?

Mantle cell lymphoma is a monotonous cyclin D1 positive infiltrate, not a regressed follicle.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology in Pathology. It is usually a localised, benign lymphoproliferation.

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 Haematology?

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.