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 55-year-old man has sacral pain and constipation. Imaging shows a destructive midline sacral mass. Histology shows lobules of large vacuolated cells in a myxoid stroma, positive for cytokeratin and brachyury. From which tissue does this tumour arise?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Notochord remnants

Chordoma arises from notochord remnants in the sacrococcygeal region or clivus. Its physaliferous cells are vacuolated and brachyury marks notochordal differentiation.

Option by option

  • A. Neural crest

    Neural crest tumours include melanoma and neuroblastoma and do not express brachyury.

  • B. Hyaline cartilage

    Chondrosarcoma arises from cartilage but is cytokeratin and brachyury negative.

  • C. Notochord remnants (correct)

    Correct. Chordomas arise from notochord remnants.

  • D. Peripheral nerve sheath

    Nerve sheath tumours such as schwannoma are S100 positive spindle cell lesions.

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, Notochord remnants. Chordoma arises from notochord remnants in the sacrococcygeal region or clivus.

Why is "Neural crest" not the answer?

Neural crest tumours include melanoma and neuroblastoma and do not express brachyury.

Why is "Hyaline cartilage" not the answer?

Chondrosarcoma arises from cartilage but is cytokeratin and brachyury negative.

Why is "Peripheral nerve sheath" not the answer?

Nerve sheath tumours such as schwannoma are S100 positive spindle cell lesions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue in Pathology. Its physaliferous cells are vacuolated and brachyury marks notochordal differentiation.

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.