Uveitis: sympathetic ophthalmia: practice question

A Ophthalmology 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

Ophthalmology · Uveitis: sympathetic ophthalmia

Sample item

Two weeks after a penetrating injury of one eye, the fellow eye becomes photophobic with granulomatous uveitis. What is the histological hallmark?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Dalen-Fuchs nodules

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis due to autoimmunity to uveal antigens exposed after trauma. Dalen-Fuchs nodules are granulomas between the RPE and Bruch's membrane, and early enucleation of a blind injured eye prevents it.

Option by option

  • A. Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes

    Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes occur in retinoblastoma.

  • B. Reed-Sternberg cells

    Reed-Sternberg cells indicate Hodgkin lymphoma.

  • C. Dalen-Fuchs nodules (correct)

    Correct. Dalen-Fuchs nodules are characteristic.

  • D. Homer-Wright rosettes

    Homer-Wright rosettes occur in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.

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 Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is C, Dalen-Fuchs nodules. Sympathetic ophthalmia is a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis due to autoimmunity to uveal antigens exposed after trauma.

Why is "Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes" not the answer?

Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes occur in retinoblastoma.

Why is "Reed-Sternberg cells" not the answer?

Reed-Sternberg cells indicate Hodgkin lymphoma.

Why is "Homer-Wright rosettes" not the answer?

Homer-Wright rosettes occur in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Uveitis: sympathetic ophthalmia in Ophthalmology. Dalen-Fuchs nodules are granulomas between the RPE and Bruch's membrane, and early enucleation of a blind injured eye prevents it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Uveitis: sympathetic ophthalmia?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology 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.