Gastrointestinal surgery: palliation of oesophageal cancer: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Gastrointestinal surgery: palliation of oesophageal cancer

Sample item

A 72-year-old with unresectable squamous carcinoma of the mid-oesophagus cannot swallow saliva and has a life expectancy of a few months. Which measure gives the quickest relief of dysphagia?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Self-expanding metal stent

In unresectable disease with short life expectancy, a self-expanding metal stent restores swallowing within days with low morbidity. Resection is not appropriate, and botulinum toxin acts only on sphincter spasm.

Option by option

  • A. Feeding jejunostomy alone as the only measure

    A jejunostomy feeds the patient but does not restore swallowing or control saliva.

  • B. Self-expanding metal stent (correct)

    Correct. A stent relieves obstruction rapidly and with little morbidity.

  • C. Repeated botulinum toxin injection

    Botulinum toxin does not relieve a fixed tumour stricture.

  • D. Oesophagectomy

    Resection has high morbidity and is not indicated in unresectable disease.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Self-expanding metal stent. In unresectable disease with short life expectancy, a self-expanding metal stent restores swallowing within days with low morbidity.

Why is "Feeding jejunostomy alone as the only measure" not the answer?

A jejunostomy feeds the patient but does not restore swallowing or control saliva.

Why is "Repeated botulinum toxin injection" not the answer?

Botulinum toxin does not relieve a fixed tumour stricture.

Why is "Oesophagectomy" not the answer?

Resection has high morbidity and is not indicated in unresectable disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastrointestinal surgery: palliation of oesophageal cancer in General Surgery. Resection is not appropriate, and botulinum toxin acts only on sphincter spasm.

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 Gastrointestinal surgery: palliation of oesophageal cancer?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.