Cell injury: necrosis in cerebral infarction: 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 · Cell injury: necrosis in cerebral infarction

Sample item

An occlusion of the middle cerebral artery produces an infarct that becomes soft and cystic over time. Which pattern of necrosis is expected in the brain?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Liquefactive necrosis

Ischaemic injury in the central nervous system characteristically undergoes liquefactive necrosis because enzymatic digestion of dead tissue predominates. Most solid-organ infarcts instead show coagulative necrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Caseous necrosis

    Caseous necrosis is classically seen in tuberculosis.

  • B. Liquefactive necrosis (correct)

    Correct. Cerebral infarcts evolve by enzymatic liquefaction and macrophage clearance.

  • C. Coagulative necrosis

    Coagulative necrosis is typical of infarcts in solid organs such as kidney and heart.

  • D. Fat necrosis

    Fat necrosis occurs after lipase release, such as in acute pancreatitis.

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.

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Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is B, Liquefactive necrosis. Ischaemic injury in the central nervous system characteristically undergoes liquefactive necrosis because enzymatic digestion of dead tissue predominates.

Why is "Caseous necrosis" not the answer?

Caseous necrosis is classically seen in tuberculosis.

Why is "Coagulative necrosis" not the answer?

Coagulative necrosis is typical of infarcts in solid organs such as kidney and heart.

Why is "Fat necrosis" not the answer?

Fat necrosis occurs after lipase release, such as in acute pancreatitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cell injury: necrosis in cerebral infarction in Pathology. Most solid-organ infarcts instead show coagulative necrosis.

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 Cell injury: necrosis in cerebral infarction?

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.