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.

Try it

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

Sample item

A 40-year-old woman has calcifications on mammography. Biopsy shows a lobulocentric proliferation of small acini compressed by stroma, with the lobular outline preserved. Which finding confirms that this is benign?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. A p63-positive myoepithelial layer around the acini

Sclerosing adenosis can mimic invasive carcinoma. Immunostains for myoepithelial cells, such as p63 and smooth muscle actin, are present around the acini, which excludes invasion.

Option by option

  • A. HER2 overexpression

    HER2 overexpression suggests carcinoma, not a benign adenosis.

  • B. Loss of E-cadherin staining

    E-cadherin loss supports lobular neoplasia and is not a feature of sclerosing adenosis.

  • C. A p63-positive myoepithelial layer around the acini (correct)

    Correct. Preserved myoepithelium is the key sign of a benign lesion.

  • D. Absence of myoepithelial cells

    Absent myoepithelial cells would indicate invasion, which is the opposite of this finding.

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 C, A p63-positive myoepithelial layer around the acini. Sclerosing adenosis can mimic invasive carcinoma.

Why is "HER2 overexpression" not the answer?

HER2 overexpression suggests carcinoma, not a benign adenosis.

Why is "Loss of E-cadherin staining" not the answer?

E-cadherin loss supports lobular neoplasia and is not a feature of sclerosing adenosis.

Why is "Absence of myoepithelial cells" not the answer?

Absent myoepithelial cells would indicate invasion, which is the opposite of this finding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue in Pathology. Immunostains for myoepithelial cells, such as p63 and smooth muscle actin, are present around the acini, which excludes invasion.

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.