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 30-year-old has a rapidly growing, tender 2 cm nodule on the volar forearm of 3 weeks' duration. Excision shows plump spindle cells in a feathery tissue-culture pattern with extravasated red cells, and a USP6 rearrangement. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Nodular fasciitis

Nodular fasciitis is a self-limiting reactive-looking myofibroblastic proliferation that grows fast and can be mistaken for sarcoma. USP6 rearrangement shows it is a true, self-limiting neoplasm.

Option by option

  • A. Fibrosarcoma

    Fibrosarcoma shows a herringbone pattern with atypia and mitoses, and slow progressive growth.

  • B. Desmoid tumour

    Desmoid tumour grows infiltratively with long fascicles and beta-catenin mutation, not as a small rapid nodule.

  • C. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

    Dermatofibrosarcoma shows a storiform pattern in the dermis with CD34 positivity.

  • D. Nodular fasciitis (correct)

    Correct. A rapidly growing, self-limiting nodule with a tissue-culture pattern is nodular fasciitis.

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 D, Nodular fasciitis. Nodular fasciitis is a self-limiting reactive-looking myofibroblastic proliferation that grows fast and can be mistaken for sarcoma.

Why is "Fibrosarcoma" not the answer?

Fibrosarcoma shows a herringbone pattern with atypia and mitoses, and slow progressive growth.

Why is "Desmoid tumour" not the answer?

Desmoid tumour grows infiltratively with long fascicles and beta-catenin mutation, not as a small rapid nodule.

Why is "Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans" not the answer?

Dermatofibrosarcoma shows a storiform pattern in the dermis with CD34 positivity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, CNS, bone and soft tissue in Pathology. USP6 rearrangement shows it is a true, self-limiting neoplasm.

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.