Vasculitis: Takayasu arteritis: 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 · Vasculitis: Takayasu arteritis

Sample item

A 24-year-old woman has fatigue, absent left radial pulse, a difference in blood pressure between the arms, carotid bruits and transient visual blurring. What is the characteristic histology of the affected vessel?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Granulomatous panarteritis with giant cells and fibrosis of the aortic arch and its branches

Takayasu arteritis is a large-vessel granulomatous vasculitis of the aorta and its major branches, seen mostly in young women and common in Asia including India. Granulomatous inflammation with giant cells progresses to fibrosis, stenosis and a pulseless state. It is distinguished from giant cell arteritis by the age of onset.

Option by option

  • A. Transmural fibrinoid necrosis of medium arteries with microaneurysms

    Fibrinoid necrosis of medium arteries with microaneurysms describes polyarteritis nodosa.

  • B. Granulomatous panarteritis with giant cells and fibrosis of the aortic arch and its branches (correct)

    Correct. Granulomatous panarteritis of the aortic arch vessels causes pulseless disease.

  • C. Segmental thrombosing inflammation with microabscesses in the thrombus

    Thrombosing inflammation with microabscesses describes Buerger disease in young male smokers.

  • D. Leukocytoclastic inflammation confined to post-capillary venules

    Leukocytoclastic venulitis describes hypersensitivity vasculitis, a small-vessel disease.

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, Granulomatous panarteritis with giant cells and fibrosis of the aortic arch and its branches. Takayasu arteritis is a large-vessel granulomatous vasculitis of the aorta and its major branches, seen mostly in young women and common in Asia including India.

Why is "Transmural fibrinoid necrosis of medium arteries with microaneurysms" not the answer?

Fibrinoid necrosis of medium arteries with microaneurysms describes polyarteritis nodosa.

Why is "Segmental thrombosing inflammation with microabscesses in the thrombus" not the answer?

Thrombosing inflammation with microabscesses describes Buerger disease in young male smokers.

Why is "Leukocytoclastic inflammation confined to post-capillary venules" not the answer?

Leukocytoclastic venulitis describes hypersensitivity vasculitis, a small-vessel disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vasculitis: Takayasu arteritis in Pathology. Granulomatous inflammation with giant cells progresses to fibrosis, stenosis and a pulseless state. It is distinguished from giant cell arteritis by the age of onset.

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 Vasculitis: Takayasu arteritis?

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.