General Pathology Practice Questions

Q: Psammoma bodies show which type of calcification?

Dystrophic. **Explanation:** **Psammoma bodies** are microscopic, concentric, laminated calcified structures. They represent a classic example of **Dystrophic Calcification**. [1], [2] 1. **Why Dystrophic Calcification is Correct:** Dystrophic calcification occurs in **non-viable or dying tissues** despite **normal serum calcium and phosphate levels**. In tumors, single cells undergo necrosis; calcium salts then deposit in these necrotic foci, serving as a "nidus." Successive layers of calcium are added, creating the characteristic "sand-like" laminated appearance. [1] 2. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Metastatic Calcification:** This occurs in **normal (living) tissues** due to **hypercalcemia** (e.g., hyperparathyroidism, Vitamin D toxicity). It does not form laminated psammoma bodies. * **Macrophages & Plasma Cells:** These are cellular components of the immune system. While macrophages may be involved in clearing debris, they are not a "type of calcification." 3. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** To remember the tumors associated with Psammoma bodies, use the mnemonic **"PSaMMoma"**: * **P:** **P**apillary carcinoma of the thyroid. [1] * **S:** **S**erous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary. * **M:** **M**eningioma (the most common neuroanatomical association). [2] * **M:** **M**esothelioma. **Key Distinction:** Psammoma bodies are an important diagnostic clue in histopathology, particularly in **Meningiomas** (specifically the Psammomatous type), where they appear as dark, gritty whorls on H&E staining. [2]

Q: What is the chance of an offspring being affected when one parent is an autosomal dominant heterozygote?

50%. ### Explanation **1. Why 50% is the Correct Answer:** Autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance occurs when a single copy of a mutated gene (on a non-sex chromosome) is sufficient to cause the disease. In this scenario, the affected parent is a **heterozygote (Aa)** and the other parent is typically **unaffected (aa)**. According to Mendelian laws, the offspring possibilities are: * **Aa** (Affected): 50% * **aa** (Unaffected): 50% Because the "A" allele is dominant, every child who inherits it will express the phenotype, regardless of gender. **2. Why the Other Options are Incorrect:** * **A (25%):** This is the recurrence risk for an **Autosomal Recessive** disorder when both parents are asymptomatic carriers (Aa x Aa). * **C (100%):** This would only occur if one parent was an **autosomal dominant homozygote (AA)**, which is rare as many such conditions are lethal in utero or significantly more severe. * **D (None):** This is incorrect because AD traits do not skip generations (vertical transmission). **3. NEET-PG Clinical Pearls & High-Yield Facts:** * **Vertical Transmission:** AD disorders appear in every generation. * **Male = Female:** Both sexes are affected with equal frequency. * **Key Examples:** Huntington’s disease, Marfan syndrome, Neurofibromatosis (NF-1 and NF-2), Achondroplasia, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. * **Variable Expressivity:** Different patients with the same AD mutation may show varying degrees of clinical severity. * **Reduced Penetrance:** An individual may carry the dominant gene but not show the clinical phenotype (skipping a generation phenotypically, but not genotypically). * **Paternal Age Effect:** Advanced paternal age is associated with new (de novo) autosomal dominant mutations (e.g., Achondroplasia).

Question 1

Psammoma bodies show which type of calcification?

Accepted Answer

Dystrophic

Answer

Metastatic

Answer

Macrophages

Answer

Plasma cells

Question 2

All lysosomal storage diseases are autosomal recessive, EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

Fabry's disease

Answer

Hurler disease

Answer

Morquio disease

Answer

Gaucher disease

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a congenital cause of hypercoagulable states?

Accepted Answer

Antithrombin III deficiency

Answer

Protein C deficiency

Answer

Protein S deficiency

Answer

MTHFR mutation

Question 4

Which stain is used to highlight the ocular basement membrane?

Accepted Answer

PAS (Periodic acid–Schiff)

Answer

Alcian blue

Answer

Methylene blue

Answer

Geimsa stain

Question 5

What is the chance of an offspring being affected when one parent is an autosomal dominant heterozygote?

Accepted Answer

50%

Answer

25%

Answer

100%

Answer

None

Question 6

A 45-year-old male patient complains of blurred vision. The patient has a habit of smoking and is a chronic alcoholic. Investigations reveal that his plasma homocysteine level is 80µmol/L. Which type of thrombosis can occur in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Both arterial and venous

Answer

Arterial

Answer

Venous

Answer

None of the above

Question 7

In cell death, from which cellular component are myelin bodies derived?

Accepted Answer

Cell Membrane

Answer

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Lysosome

Question 8

Neurofibromatosis I is inherited in which pattern?

Accepted Answer

Autosomal dominant

Answer

Autosomal recessive

Answer

X-linked recessive

Answer

X-linked dominant

Question 9

All of the following are true about arterial thrombosis except?

Accepted Answer

Complete lumen obstruction

Answer

Retrograde growth

Answer

Lines of Zahn

Answer

White thrombus

Question 10

A patient is brought to the emergency department following carbon monoxide poisoning. Hyperbaric oxygen was given, following which the patient developed oxygen toxicity. What is the likely mechanism of the toxicity?

Accepted Answer

Mediated by free radicals

Answer

Direct DNA damage

Answer

Apoptosis

Answer

Nuclear fragmentation

General Pathology — MCQs

General Pathology — MCQs

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