Cardiac pathology: 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 · Cardiac pathology

Sample item

Aschoff bodies are characteristic of which condition?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rheumatic heart disease

Aschoff bodies are granulomas with Anitschkow (caterpillar) cells that form in the heart in rheumatic fever. Infective endocarditis shows friable vegetations, and Libman–Sacks vegetations are sterile and occur in lupus.

Option by option

  • A. Libman–Sacks endocarditis

    Libman–Sacks lesions are small sterile vegetations seen in lupus.

  • B. Rheumatic heart disease (correct)

    Correct. They are the pathognomonic lesion of rheumatic carditis.

  • C. Infective endocarditis

    Infective endocarditis has large friable vegetations with bacteria.

  • D. Viral myocarditis

    Viral myocarditis shows lymphocytic infiltrates with myocyte injury.

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 B, Rheumatic heart disease. Aschoff bodies are granulomas with Anitschkow (caterpillar) cells that form in the heart in rheumatic fever.

Why is "Libman–Sacks endocarditis" not the answer?

Libman–Sacks lesions are small sterile vegetations seen in lupus.

Why is "Infective endocarditis" not the answer?

Infective endocarditis has large friable vegetations with bacteria.

Why is "Viral myocarditis" not the answer?

Viral myocarditis shows lymphocytic infiltrates with myocyte injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiac pathology in Pathology. Infective endocarditis shows friable vegetations, and Libman–Sacks vegetations are sterile and occur in lupus.

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 Cardiac pathology?

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.