Toxicology: vinyl chloride: 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: vinyl chloride

Sample item

A worker in a PVC plant for many years is found to have a malignant liver tumour of vascular origin. Which chemical exposure is classically linked?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Vinyl chloride monomer

Vinyl chloride is classically associated with hepatic angiosarcoma and also Raynaud phenomenon and acro-osteolysis. Benzene causes leukaemia, aflatoxin causes hepatocellular carcinoma and arsenic causes skin and lung cancers.

Option by option

  • A. Arsenic

    Arsenic is linked to skin, lung and bladder cancers.

  • B. Vinyl chloride monomer (correct)

    Correct. Vinyl chloride causes hepatic angiosarcoma.

  • C. Benzene

    Benzene is linked to aplastic anaemia and leukaemia.

  • D. Aflatoxin

    Aflatoxin is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma, not angiosarcoma.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Vinyl chloride monomer. Vinyl chloride is classically associated with hepatic angiosarcoma and also Raynaud phenomenon and acro-osteolysis.

Why is "Arsenic" not the answer?

Arsenic is linked to skin, lung and bladder cancers.

Why is "Benzene" not the answer?

Benzene is linked to aplastic anaemia and leukaemia.

Why is "Aflatoxin" not the answer?

Aflatoxin is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma, not angiosarcoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: vinyl chloride in Forensic Medicine. Benzene causes leukaemia, aflatoxin causes hepatocellular carcinoma and arsenic causes skin and lung cancers.

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: vinyl chloride?

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.