Paediatric surgery: mesenteric adenitis: 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.

Try it

General Surgery · Paediatric surgery: mesenteric adenitis

Sample item

A 7-year-old with a recent sore throat has fever and right iliac fossa pain. Ultrasound shows enlarged ileocaecal lymph nodes and a normal appendix. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mesenteric adenitis

Mesenteric adenitis follows viral or streptococcal throat infection and mimics appendicitis. Ultrasound shows enlarged nodes with a normal appendix, and it is managed conservatively.

Option by option

  • A. Mesenteric adenitis (correct)

    Correct. Enlarged nodes with a normal appendix is mesenteric adenitis.

  • B. Meckel diverticulitis

    Meckel diverticulitis cannot be separated by nodes, and the appendix is not the issue.

  • C. Intussusception

    Intussusception shows a target sign and colicky pain with redcurrant stool.

  • D. Acute appendicitis

    Appendicitis would show an inflamed non-compressible appendix.

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 A, Mesenteric adenitis. Mesenteric adenitis follows viral or streptococcal throat infection and mimics appendicitis.

Why is "Meckel diverticulitis" not the answer?

Meckel diverticulitis cannot be separated by nodes, and the appendix is not the issue.

Why is "Intussusception" not the answer?

Intussusception shows a target sign and colicky pain with redcurrant stool.

Why is "Acute appendicitis" not the answer?

Appendicitis would show an inflamed non-compressible appendix.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: mesenteric adenitis in General Surgery. Ultrasound shows enlarged nodes with a normal appendix, and it is managed conservatively.

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 Paediatric surgery: mesenteric adenitis?

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.