Breast: periductal mastitis: practice question

A General Surgery 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 Surgery · Breast: periductal mastitis

Sample item

A 35-year-old smoker has recurrent subareolar abscesses with nipple retraction and a fistula at the areolar margin. What is the underlying condition?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Periductal mastitis with mammary duct fistula

Periductal mastitis is linked to smoking, which damages subareolar ducts and leads to recurrent infection with mixed aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Management is antibiotics covering anaerobes, drainage of abscesses, and excision of the affected duct system for fistula. Smoking cessation lowers recurrence.

Option by option

  • A. Paget disease

    Paget disease gives an eczematous nipple.

  • B. Periductal mastitis with mammary duct fistula (correct)

    Correct. Smokers develop periductal inflammation and recurring abscess or fistula.

  • C. Tuberculous mastitis only

    TB is rare and would not be assumed first.

  • D. Lactational mastitis

    Lactational mastitis occurs in breastfeeding women.

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 Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Periductal mastitis with mammary duct fistula. Periductal mastitis is linked to smoking, which damages subareolar ducts and leads to recurrent infection with mixed aerobic and anaerobic organisms.

Why is "Paget disease" not the answer?

Paget disease gives an eczematous nipple.

Why is "Tuberculous mastitis only" not the answer?

TB is rare and would not be assumed first.

Why is "Lactational mastitis" not the answer?

Lactational mastitis occurs in breastfeeding women.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast: periductal mastitis in General Surgery. Management is antibiotics covering anaerobes, drainage of abscesses, and excision of the affected duct system for fistula. Smoking cessation lowers recurrence.

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 Breast: periductal mastitis?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.