Systemic pathology: hepatocellular adenoma: 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.

Try it

Pathology · Systemic pathology: hepatocellular adenoma

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman on long-term oral contraceptives has sudden right upper quadrant pain and hypotension. CT shows a 7 cm liver mass with haemorrhage. Histology of the resected mass shows sheets of benign hepatocytes without portal tracts or bile ducts. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hepatocellular adenoma

Hepatocellular adenoma is a benign hepatocyte tumour related to oestrogen exposure that lacks portal tracts and bile ducts. It can rupture and bleed, particularly when large, and carries a small risk of malignant change. Focal nodular hyperplasia, in contrast, contains a central scar with abnormal bile ductules.

Option by option

  • A. Cavernous haemangioma

    Cavernous haemangioma consists of vascular channels, not sheets of hepatocytes.

  • B. Hepatocellular adenoma (correct)

    Correct. Oestrogen exposure, a bleeding mass and hepatocytes without portal tracts indicate adenoma.

  • C. Focal nodular hyperplasia

    Focal nodular hyperplasia has a central stellate scar with fibrous septa and ductules and rarely bleeds.

  • D. Fibrolamellar carcinoma

    Fibrolamellar carcinoma shows large eosinophilic cells in lamellar fibrous bands and occurs without oestrogen exposure.

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 B, Hepatocellular adenoma. Hepatocellular adenoma is a benign hepatocyte tumour related to oestrogen exposure that lacks portal tracts and bile ducts.

Why is "Cavernous haemangioma" not the answer?

Cavernous haemangioma consists of vascular channels, not sheets of hepatocytes.

Why is "Focal nodular hyperplasia" not the answer?

Focal nodular hyperplasia has a central stellate scar with fibrous septa and ductules and rarely bleeds.

Why is "Fibrolamellar carcinoma" not the answer?

Fibrolamellar carcinoma shows large eosinophilic cells in lamellar fibrous bands and occurs without oestrogen exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: hepatocellular adenoma in Pathology. It can rupture and bleed, particularly when large, and carries a small risk of malignant change. Focal nodular hyperplasia, in contrast, contains a central scar with abnormal bile ductules.

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 Systemic pathology: hepatocellular adenoma?

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.