KMU Past Paper Practice
Topic 16 — Neoplasia, Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention, Control and Screening
3rd Year MBBS • 20 A-type Single Best Answer MCQs
MCQ 1
Question:
A 48-year-old woman undergoes excision of a uterine mass. Histology shows bundles of uniform smooth-muscle cells with no invasion or atypical mitotic activity. Which tumor name best reflects both its tissue of origin and biological behavior?
Options:
Leiomyoma
A benign smooth-muscle neoplasm is termed leiomyoma; malignant smooth-muscle tumors are designated leiomyosarcoma.
MCQ 2
Question:
A gastric biopsy shows orderly replacement of one mature epithelial cell type by another mature cell type better able to tolerate chronic irritation. Which process best describes this change?
Options:
Metaplasia
Metaplasia is a reversible substitution of one mature differentiated cell type by another adapted to persistent stress.
MCQ 3
Question:
A resected intestinal tumor is sharply demarcated from the surrounding tissue and compresses rather than infiltrates adjacent structures. Which additional finding would be most consistent with this pattern?
Options:
Well-preserved differentiation
Expansile, circumscribed growth together with good differentiation is characteristic of benign neoplasms.
MCQ 4
Question:
A pathologist compares two malignant tumors. Tumor X closely resembles its tissue of origin, whereas Tumor Y shows marked pleomorphism and loss of normal architecture. Which statement best describes Tumor Y?
Options:
It demonstrates greater anaplasia
Anaplasia is loss of differentiation and is reflected morphologically by pleomorphism and loss of normal tissue architecture.
MCQ 5
Question:
A 64-year-old man has a malignant colonic tumor. At surgery, tumor deposits are found scattered over the peritoneal surface without direct continuity with the primary lesion. Which property of malignant neoplasia is demonstrated?
Options:
Metastatic dissemination
Separate tumor deposits physically discontinuous from the primary tumor represent metastasis, a defining property of malignant neoplasms.
MCQ 6
Question:
A rapidly enlarging malignant tumor contains extensive central necrosis despite active cellular proliferation at its periphery. Which tumor feature most directly accounts for this appearance?
Options:
Loss of blood supply relative to growth
Rapid malignant growth may exceed vascular supply, producing ischemia and central tumor necrosis.
MCQ 7
Question:
A biopsy from bronchial epithelium shows disordered maturation and loss of normal orientation but no penetration through the underlying boundary. Which conclusion is most appropriate?
Options:
Dysplastic change is present
Dysplasia produces disordered growth and maturation; absence of tissue penetration means invasive malignancy is not established.
MCQ 8
Question:
Researchers observe that descendants of migrants gradually develop cancer patterns resembling those of their adopted country rather than their ancestral population. Which interpretation is most strongly supported?
Options:
Environmental exposure contributes to risk
Changing cancer patterns after migration support an important role for modifiable environmental and lifestyle exposures.
MCQ 9
Question:
A 39-year-old woman develops colorectal cancer. Her father and sister had related cancers, and one relative developed two separate primary malignancies. Which epidemiological interpretation is most appropriate?
Options:
Inherited susceptibility should be considered
Young age, clustering of related cancers, and multiple primary tumors are important clues to hereditary cancer predisposition.
MCQ 10
Question:
A public-health report shows that the incidence of many epithelial cancers rises substantially after middle age. Which mechanism best explains this age-related pattern?
Options:
Accumulated abnormalities increase over time
Carcinogenesis commonly requires multiple cellular abnormalities that accumulate with age and prolonged exposure to carcinogenic influences.
MCQ 11
Question:
A community survey in Pakistan identifies a high prevalence of tobacco chewing and cigarette smoking. Which pair of malignancies should receive particular attention in risk-reduction programs?
Options:
Oral cavity and lung cancers
Tobacco in smoked and smokeless forms is an important preventable contributor to oral cavity and lung cancer burden.
MCQ 12
Question:
A 52-year-old asymptomatic woman attends a preventive health visit. Her physician considers testing for a malignancy known to have an identifiable early stage. What is the principal purpose of offering such a test?
Options:
To identify disease before symptoms develop
Screening aims to detect selected cancers or precursor lesions during an asymptomatic preclinical stage so further assessment can occur earlier.
MCQ 13
Question:
A 58-year-old man presents to a family physician with a non-healing oral ulcer and progressive unexplained weight loss. He has used smokeless tobacco for many years. Which action best reflects appropriate cancer-related care?
Options:
Arrange timely diagnostic referral
A persistent ulcer, unexplained weight loss, and tobacco exposure are red flags; symptomatic patients require diagnostic evaluation rather than routine screening.
MCQ 14
Question:
An asymptomatic woman receives an abnormal result during a cervical cancer screening program. Which next principle is most appropriate?
Options:
Proceed to appropriate diagnostic evaluation
A screening abnormality identifies increased likelihood of disease and must be followed by diagnostic assessment; it is not itself a definitive diagnosis.
MCQ 15
Question:
A provincial cancer-control strategy includes tobacco cessation campaigns, prevention of cancer-related infections, and reduction of avoidable occupational carcinogen exposure. Which level of prevention best describes these measures?
Options:
Primary prevention
Primary prevention reduces exposure to carcinogenic causes and risk factors before malignancy develops.
MCQ 16
Question:
A health department introduces organized screening for selected cancers among apparently healthy people and links abnormal results to further assessment. Which preventive strategy is being applied?
Options:
Secondary prevention
Screening and early detection identify disease in its preclinical stage and therefore represent secondary prevention.
MCQ 17
Question:
A national health authority wants to identify regional differences in cancer occurrence, detect changes over time, and plan future services. Which intervention provides the most useful foundation for this purpose?
Options:
Cancer registration and surveillance
Population-based registration and surveillance reveal cancer burden, distribution, and trends needed for public-health planning.
MCQ 18
Question:
A cancer-control program combines public education about warning symptoms with improved referral pathways and easier access to diagnostic services. Which outcome is this combination primarily intended to achieve?
Options:
Reduce delays in detection and care
Awareness, efficient referral, and diagnostic access help suspicious cases reach definitive assessment earlier.
MCQ 19
Question:
A 44-year-old woman undergoing cancer treatment becomes distressed about changes in appearance and loss of income. Her spouse reports difficulty managing childcare and caregiving duties. Which family-medicine principle is most relevant?
Options:
Cancer affects patient and family functioning
Cancer may produce emotional, social, occupational, financial, and caregiving consequences for both patients and their families.
MCQ 20
Question:
A 56-year-old man has a poorly differentiated malignant tumor that infiltrates nearby tissue. Imaging at presentation shows no secondary deposits. Which interpretation is most accurate?
Options:
Local infiltration supports malignant behavior
Local invasion is a major feature of malignancy; a malignant tumor may be diagnosed before distant metastases become detectable.