Bone tumours: chondrosarcoma: 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 · Bone tumours: chondrosarcoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old man has a slowly growing painful mass in the iliac bone. Radiograph shows a lytic lesion with stippled calcification, and histology shows atypical cells in a hyaline cartilage matrix. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant cartilage-forming tumour that mainly affects adults over 40, in the pelvis, shoulder girdle and proximal femur. Radiology shows lysis with popcorn or ring-and-arc calcification of the cartilage matrix. Grading by cellularity and atypia predicts behaviour.

Option by option

  • A. Ewing sarcoma

    Ewing sarcoma consists of small round blue cells in children, with onion-skin periosteal reaction.

  • B. Osteochondroma

    Osteochondroma is a benign cartilage-capped exostosis of the young.

  • C. Chondrosarcoma (correct)

    Correct. A malignant cartilage matrix in an adult axial bone gives chondrosarcoma.

  • D. Osteosarcoma

    Osteosarcoma produces neoplastic osteoid, mostly in adolescents, with sunburst periosteal reaction.

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 C, Chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcoma is a malignant cartilage-forming tumour that mainly affects adults over 40, in the pelvis, shoulder girdle and proximal femur.

Why is "Ewing sarcoma" not the answer?

Ewing sarcoma consists of small round blue cells in children, with onion-skin periosteal reaction.

Why is "Osteochondroma" not the answer?

Osteochondroma is a benign cartilage-capped exostosis of the young.

Why is "Osteosarcoma" not the answer?

Osteosarcoma produces neoplastic osteoid, mostly in adolescents, with sunburst periosteal reaction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone tumours: chondrosarcoma in Pathology. Radiology shows lysis with popcorn or ring-and-arc calcification of the cartilage matrix. Grading by cellularity and atypia predicts behaviour.

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 Bone tumours: chondrosarcoma?

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.