Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholecystitis: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholecystitis

Sample item

A patient with right-upper-quadrant pain has fever, leukocytosis, and an ultrasound showing gallstones, wall thickening, and pericholecystic fluid. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Acute calculous cholecystitis

Acute calculous cholecystitis results from cystic-duct obstruction with gallbladder inflammation. Ultrasound findings of wall thickening and pericholecystic fluid support the diagnosis.

Option by option

  • A. Acute hepatitis

    Hepatitis causes diffuse hepatic inflammation rather than gallbladder wall findings.

  • B. Acute calculous cholecystitis (correct)

    Correct. Inflammatory ultrasound findings distinguish cholecystitis from simple biliary colic.

  • C. Biliary colic only

    Biliary colic lacks fever, leukocytosis, and inflammatory imaging changes.

  • D. Pancreatic cancer

    Pancreatic cancer presents with obstructive jaundice or mass effects.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Acute calculous cholecystitis. Acute calculous cholecystitis results from cystic-duct obstruction with gallbladder inflammation.

Why is "Acute hepatitis" not the answer?

Hepatitis causes diffuse hepatic inflammation rather than gallbladder wall findings.

Why is "Biliary colic only" not the answer?

Biliary colic lacks fever, leukocytosis, and inflammatory imaging changes.

Why is "Pancreatic cancer" not the answer?

Pancreatic cancer presents with obstructive jaundice or mass effects.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholecystitis in General Surgery. Ultrasound findings of wall thickening and pericholecystic fluid support the diagnosis.

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 Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholecystitis?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.