Gastroenterology: pancreatic head carcinoma: practice question

A General Medicine 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 Medicine · Gastroenterology: pancreatic head carcinoma

Sample item

A 65-year-old man has painless progressive jaundice, weight loss and a palpable non-tender gallbladder. Which is the best initial imaging?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Pancreas protocol contrast-enhanced CT

A non-tender distended gallbladder with jaundice is Courvoisier sign and suggests malignant obstruction of the distal bile duct, most often pancreatic head cancer. Contrast CT assesses the mass, vascular involvement and metastasis. CA 19-9 supports diagnosis and monitoring but is not diagnostic alone.

Option by option

  • A. HIDA scan

    A HIDA scan assesses gallbladder function and cystic duct patency, not pancreatic masses.

  • B. Barium meal

    Barium meal may show duodenal widening only late and is not diagnostic.

  • C. Pancreas protocol contrast-enhanced CT (correct)

    Correct. A pancreatic protocol CT defines the mass and staging.

  • D. Plain abdominal X-ray

    A plain film cannot show a pancreatic tumour.

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 Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Pancreas protocol contrast-enhanced CT. A non-tender distended gallbladder with jaundice is Courvoisier sign and suggests malignant obstruction of the distal bile duct, most often pancreatic head cancer.

Why is "HIDA scan" not the answer?

A HIDA scan assesses gallbladder function and cystic duct patency, not pancreatic masses.

Why is "Barium meal" not the answer?

Barium meal may show duodenal widening only late and is not diagnostic.

Why is "Plain abdominal X-ray" not the answer?

A plain film cannot show a pancreatic tumour.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastroenterology: pancreatic head carcinoma in General Medicine. Contrast CT assesses the mass, vascular involvement and metastasis. CA 19-9 supports diagnosis and monitoring but is not diagnostic alone.

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 Gastroenterology: pancreatic head carcinoma?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.