General Pathology Practice Questions

Q: Trauma to the breast causes which type of necrosis?

Fat necrosis. **Explanation:** **Fat necrosis** is the correct answer because it is a specialized form of cell death occurring in tissues with high lipid content, such as the breast, omentum, and pancreas [1]. When trauma occurs to the breast, adipocytes (fat cells) rupture, releasing neutral fats (triglycerides). These fats are broken down by lipases into free fatty acids, which then combine with calcium ions in a process called **saponification** [1]. This results in the characteristic "chalky white" macroscopic appearance [1]. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Coagulative Necrosis:** This is the most common pattern of necrosis, typically caused by ischemia/infarction in solid organs (e.g., heart, kidney, spleen), except the brain. The cell architecture is preserved for a few days. * **Liquefactive Necrosis:** Characterized by the digestion of dead cells into a liquid viscous mass. It is seen in focal bacterial/fungal infections (abscesses) and **hypoxic death of cells within the Central Nervous System (brain).** * **Caseous Necrosis:** A "cheese-like" friable appearance characteristic of **Tuberculosis** infection [1]. It is a combination of coagulative and liquefactive necrosis where the tissue architecture is completely obliterated. **High-Yield Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Clinical Mimicry:** Breast fat necrosis is high-yield because it can present as a painless, hard mass with skin retraction, clinically **mimicking breast carcinoma**. * **Radiology:** On mammography, it may show "egg-shell" calcifications. * **Enzymatic vs. Traumatic:** Fat necrosis in the **pancreas** is "enzymatic" (due to activated lipases), whereas in the **breast**, it is typically "traumatic." **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Cellular Responses to Stress and Toxic Insults: Adaptation, Injury, and Death, p. 55.

Question 1

A pregnant uterus is an example of which of the following cellular adaptations?

Accepted Answer

Hypertrophy

Answer

Metaplasia

Answer

Dysplasia

Answer

Atrophy

Question 2

What is true about mural thrombi?

Accepted Answer

Occur in large vessels such as the heart and aorta

Answer

Common in small blood vessels of the heart

Answer

Appear dark red in color

Answer

Are commonly seen in the lungs

Question 3

What is the most common cause of systemic thromboembolism?

Accepted Answer

Intracardiac mural thrombi

Answer

Paradoxical emboli

Answer

Aortic aneurysms

Answer

Unknown origin

Question 4

Trauma to the breast causes which type of necrosis?

Accepted Answer

Fat necrosis

Answer

Coagulative necrosis

Answer

Liquefactive necrosis

Answer

Caseous necrosis

Question 5

What type of necrosis is typically seen in nervous tissue?

Accepted Answer

Liquefactive

Answer

Coagulative

Answer

Caseous

Answer

Fibrinoid

Question 6

Which of the following is not seen in apoptosis?

Accepted Answer

Inflammation

Answer

Nuclear fragmentation

Answer

Cellular shrinkage

Answer

Alteration in cellular membrane structure

Question 7

Which of the following does not lead to increased formation of thrombus?

Accepted Answer

Hyperglycemia

Answer

Malignancy

Answer

Decreased blood volume

Answer

Decreased blood flow

Question 8

Caspases are involved in which of the following processes?

Accepted Answer

Apoptosis

Answer

Nerve processing

Answer

Cell signaling

Answer

Inflammation

Question 9

What is true about senile systemic amyloidosis?

Accepted Answer

Transthyretin is the deposited protein

Answer

Systemic involvement is present

Answer

It is caused by AA amyloid

Answer

Heart failure is the predominant presentation

Question 10

The infarct of which of the following organs is invariably hemorrhagic?

Accepted Answer

Lung

Answer

Kidney

Answer

Spleen

Answer

Heart

General Pathology — MCQs

General Pathology — MCQs

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