Toxicology: carbon tetrachloride: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: carbon tetrachloride

Sample item

A worker exposed to a dry-cleaning solvent has vomiting followed by jaundice and oliguria. The liver shows centrilobular necrosis with fatty change. Which solvent is the likely cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Carbon tetrachloride

Carbon tetrachloride is activated by cytochrome P450 to a free radical in the centrilobular zone, causing necrosis and fatty change with hepatic and renal injury. Acetylcysteine is used. Methanol acts on the optic nerve and basal ganglia, and acetone is relatively non-toxic.

Option by option

  • A. Carbon tetrachloride (correct)

    Correct. Centrilobular necrosis with renal failure follows carbon tetrachloride exposure.

  • B. Methanol

    Methanol causes metabolic acidosis and visual loss.

  • C. Acetone

    Acetone causes mild narcosis and is not hepatotoxic.

  • D. Toluene

    Toluene causes neurological and renal tubular effects.

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 Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride is activated by cytochrome P450 to a free radical in the centrilobular zone, causing necrosis and fatty change with hepatic and renal injury.

Why is "Methanol" not the answer?

Methanol causes metabolic acidosis and visual loss.

Why is "Acetone" not the answer?

Acetone causes mild narcosis and is not hepatotoxic.

Why is "Toluene" not the answer?

Toluene causes neurological and renal tubular effects.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: carbon tetrachloride in Forensic Medicine. Acetylcysteine is used. Methanol acts on the optic nerve and basal ganglia, and acetone is relatively non-toxic.

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 Toxicology: carbon tetrachloride?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.