Tissue repair: keloid: 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 · Tissue repair: keloid

Sample item

A 22-year-old woman of dark complexion develops a raised, firm, shiny scar at an ear-piercing site. Over months it has grown well beyond the original wound margins, and it reappeared after simple surgical excision. Which statement describes this lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Thick, hyalinised collagen bundles extending beyond the original wound

A keloid is an exuberant scar in which excessive thick, glassy, eosinophilic collagen extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound. It is more frequent in dark-skinned individuals, may appear after minor trauma, and commonly recurs after excision alone. Hypertrophic scars stay within the wound margins and often regress.

Option by option

  • A. Scar confined to the wound margins that regresses spontaneously

    A scar confined to the wound that regresses describes a hypertrophic scar.

  • B. Thick, hyalinised collagen bundles extending beyond the original wound (correct)

    Correct. Keloids invade beyond the wound edge and are made of thick hyalinised collagen bundles.

  • C. Excess granulation tissue with exuberant capillaries only

    Excess granulation tissue is proud flesh, which is rich in vessels and not collagen-dense.

  • D. Reduced collagen synthesis with thin disorganised bundles

    Reduced collagen synthesis leads to wound dehiscence and not to a keloid.

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, Thick, hyalinised collagen bundles extending beyond the original wound. A keloid is an exuberant scar in which excessive thick, glassy, eosinophilic collagen extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound.

Why is "Scar confined to the wound margins that regresses spontaneously" not the answer?

A scar confined to the wound that regresses describes a hypertrophic scar.

Why is "Excess granulation tissue with exuberant capillaries only" not the answer?

Excess granulation tissue is proud flesh, which is rich in vessels and not collagen-dense.

Why is "Reduced collagen synthesis with thin disorganised bundles" not the answer?

Reduced collagen synthesis leads to wound dehiscence and not to a keloid.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Tissue repair: keloid in Pathology. It is more frequent in dark-skinned individuals, may appear after minor trauma, and commonly recurs after excision alone. Hypertrophic scars stay within the wound margins and often regress.

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 Tissue repair: keloid?

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.