Cardiac Pathology — MCQs

Cardiac Pathology Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs

Question 231: Fish mouth appearance of valve in RHD is due to-

A. Rupture of valve
B. Calcification & fibrosis (Correct Answer)
C. Hypertrophy of ventricular wall
D. None of the options

Explanation: ***Calcification & fibrosis*** - The **fish mouth appearance** of the valve in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is primarily due to **calcification and fibrosis** of the mitral valve [1]. - This results in **narrowing of the valve orifice**, which mimics the shape of a fish mouth during diastole [1]. *Rupture of valve* - Rupture of the valve typically leads to **acute severe valvular insufficiency** and does not explain the **gradual narrowing** characteristic of the fish mouth appearance. - It would generally be associated with **acute symptoms** rather than the chronic changes seen in RHD. *None of the above* - This option is incorrect as the fish mouth appearance is well-defined by **calcification and fibrosis**, making it a specific feature of RHD. - It also disregards the specific etiology associated with the valvular deformity in RHD. *Hypertrophy of ventricular wall* - While hypertrophy of the ventricular wall can occur in RHD due to increased workload, it does not directly lead to the **valvular deformity** known as fish mouth appearance. - This hypertrophy affects the **myocardium**, not the structure of the valves themselves which are primarily affected by fibrosis and calcification. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, pp. 566-567.

Question 232: Most common malignant tumor of the heart in adults

A. Cardiac Sarcoma (Correct Answer)
B. Paraganglioma
C. Rhabdomyoma
D. Lipoma

Explanation: ***Cardiac Sarcoma*** - **Cardiac sarcomas** are the most common type of **primary malignant tumor** of the heart in adults, accounting for about 95% of primary malignant cardiac tumors. - **Angiosarcoma** is the most common subtype (approximately 33-50% of all cardiac sarcomas), typically originating from the **right atrium**. - These tumors are highly aggressive with rapid growth, early metastasis, and poor prognosis. - They commonly present with right-sided heart failure, pericardial effusion, or constitutional symptoms. *Rhabdomyoma* - **Rhabdomyomas** are the most common **primary cardiac tumors in infants and children** (60-80% of pediatric cardiac tumors), not adults. - These tumors are **benign** and strongly associated with tuberous sclerosis. - They often spontaneously regress after birth. *Lipoma* - **Lipomas** are **benign tumors** composed of mature adipocytes and account for about 10% of benign cardiac tumors. - They are typically asymptomatic and found incidentally. - They are not malignant and therefore not relevant to this question about malignant tumors. *Paraganglioma* - **Paragangliomas** (pheochromocytomas of the heart) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. - They are typically **benign** (though can be locally invasive) and may be hormonally active, causing catecholamine-related symptoms. - They represent less than 1% of cardiac tumors and are not the most common malignant cardiac tumor.

Question 233: Aetiology of Dressler Syndrome is

A. Autoimmune (Correct Answer)
B. Toxin mediated
C. Viral infection
D. Idiopathic cause

Explanation: ***Autoimmune*** - Dressler syndrome is a form of **pericarditis** that occurs several days to weeks after myocardial injury (e.g., myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, trauma). [3] - It is considered an **autoimmune phenomenon** where the body's immune system attacks damaged cardiac tissue. [1] *Viral infection* - While viral infections can cause general pericarditis, Dressler syndrome specifically refers to **post-cardiac injury** inflammation, not direct viral involvement. [2], [3] - Viral pericarditis typically has a more acute presentation without a preceding cardiac event. [2] *Toxin mediated* - There is no evidence to suggest that Dressler syndrome is caused by **toxins** or toxic substances. - The pathogenesis is linked to an immune response to damaged myocardial cells. *Idiopathic cause* - While some forms of pericarditis are idiopathic, Dressler syndrome has a clear **triggering event** (cardiac injury) and a well-understood autoimmune mechanism. [3] - Therefore, it is not classified as idiopathic. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Diseases of the Immune System, pp. 214-215. [2] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, pp. 581-582. [3] Cross SS. Underwood's Pathology: A Clinical Approach. 6th ed. Common Clinical Problems From Cardiovascular Disease, pp. 297-298.

Question 234: Which type of white blood cell plays a primary role in cardiac remodeling and chronic inflammation in heart failure?

A. Eosinophils
B. Macrophages (Correct Answer)
C. T cells
D. B cells

Explanation: ***Macrophages*** - **Macrophages** are increasingly recognized for their critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of **heart failure**, contributing to **cardiac remodeling**, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis - They infiltrate failing myocardium and play dual roles: promoting both **inflammation** and **tissue repair** - Their activation state (M1 vs M2 phenotypes) can significantly influence cardiac function and prognosis in heart failure patients - They secrete **cytokines**, **growth factors**, and **matrix metalloproteinases** that contribute to ventricular remodeling *Eosinophils* - **Eosinophils** are primarily involved in **allergic reactions** and defense against **parasitic infections** - While they can contribute to inflammation in specific cardiac conditions (e.g., **eosinophilic myocarditis**, **Loeffler endocarditis**), they are not primarily associated with the general pathophysiology of chronic heart failure *T cells* - **T cells** are central to **adaptive immunity**, including cell-mediated responses and modulation of immune reactions - Though T cells play a role in inflammatory processes in certain forms of heart disease, particularly **viral myocarditis**, they are not the predominant immune cell driving chronic cardiac remodeling in heart failure *B cells* - **B cells** are responsible for producing **antibodies** and are key players in humoral immunity - While B cells can contribute to autoimmune forms of heart disease and certain inflammatory processes, they are not typically the primary immune cell associated with the progression of chronic heart failure

Question 235: Heart failure cells are seen in -

A. Pulmonary edema (Correct Answer)
B. Pulmonary infarction
C. Pulmonary abscess
D. Pulmonary tuberculosis

Explanation: ***Pulmonary edema*** - Heart failure cells, or **hemosiderin-laden macrophages**, are typically found in the lungs during pulmonary edema due to left-sided heart failure [1]. - This condition leads to **increased pulmonary capillary pressure**, causing leakage of red blood cells into the alveoli, which macrophages then phagocytose [1]. *Pulmonary abscess* - Characterized by a **localized collection of pus** within the lung, typically due to infection, rather than heart failure. - Does not typically involve **hemosiderin-laden macrophages** indicative of chronic pulmonary congestion. *Pulmonary infarction* - Causes **tissue death** due to obstruction of blood flow, leading to necrosis rather than heart failure cells. - Typically presents with **infarcted lung tissue**, showing a different pathological process than seen in heart failure. *PulmonaryTB* - Primarily caused by **Mycobacterium tuberculosis**, leading to cavitary lesions and granulomatous inflammation, not heart failure cells. - The presence of **caseating granulomas** is characterized but does not indicate chronic pulmonary congestion. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, pp. 536-538.

Question 236: What type of necrosis is associated with Myocardial Infarction (MI)?

A. Coagulative necrosis (Correct Answer)
B. Liquefactive necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis

Explanation: ***Coagulative necrosis*** - Myocardial infarction (MI) typically results in **coagulative necrosis**, characterized by the preservation of the outline of the tissue despite cellular death [1]. - It is often associated with **ischemia**, where blood supply is obstructed, leading to cell death while maintaining tissue architecture for a time [1]. *Fat necrosis* - Fat necrosis is typically associated with **trauma** or **inflammation** in fat tissue, often seen in conditions like pancreatitis. - It is characterized by the presence of **necrotic adipocytes** and does not involve the myocardium directly or predominantly. *Caseous necrosis* - Caseous necrosis is often associated with **tuberculosis** infections, where tissue becomes crumbly and cheese-like. - It is not relevant to myocardial infarction, which does not present with the classical **granulomatous inflammation** of caseous necrosis. *Liquefactive necrosis* - Liquefactive necrosis typically occurs in conditions such as **brain infarcts** or bacterial infections leading to **pus formation**, not in MI. - It involves the transformation of tissue into a **liquid viscous mass**, which is not characteristic of myocardial tissue affected by infarction. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, p. 552.

Question 237: Which protein is defective in dilated cardiomyopathy?

A. Tropomyosin
B. Myosin
C. Troponin
D. Dystrophin (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ***Dystrophin*** - **Dystrophin** is a crucial protein in the **muscle cell membrane** that anchors the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. - Defects in dystrophin lead to sarcolemmal fragility, causing muscle damage and can result in **dilated cardiomyopathy**, especially in conditions like **Duchenne muscular dystrophy** [1]. *Myosin* - **Myosin** is a fundamental **motor protein** involved in muscle contraction, forming the thick filaments. - While mutations in myosin can cause various cardiac conditions, like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, direct primary defects in myosin are not typically identified as the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy [2]. *Troponin* - **Troponin** is a protein complex that regulates muscle contraction by controlling the interaction between actin and myosin, particularly in response to calcium. - Although troponins are vital for cardiac function and are released during myocardial injury, their primary defect is not typically implicated in the etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy [2]. *Tropomyosin* - **Tropomyosin** is a protein that winds around actin filaments and, along with troponin, regulates the binding of myosin to actin. - While essential for muscle contraction, direct defects in tropomyosin are not a common genetic cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Peripheral Nerves and Skeletal Muscles, pp. 1244-1245. [2] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, p. 574.

Question 238: Concentric hypertrophy of left ventricle is seen in -

A. Congenital aortic stenosis due to bicuspid aortic valve (Correct Answer)
B. Mitral Stenosis
C. Aortic Regurgitation
D. Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Explanation: ***Congenital aortic stenosis due to bicuspid aortic valve*** - **Aortic stenosis** creates a **pressure overload** on the left ventricle, leading to a compensatory increase in myocardial wall thickness without significant chamber dilation, which is the classic example of **concentric hypertrophy** [1]. - A **bicuspid aortic valve** is a common congenital anomaly that causes aortic stenosis and thus concentric left ventricular hypertrophy [2]. - This represents **acquired concentric hypertrophy** due to hemodynamic stress. *Mitral Stenosis* - **Mitral stenosis** primarily causes a pressure overload on the **left atrium**, leading to left atrial enlargement [3]. - While it can indirectly affect the left ventricle, it typically does not cause **concentric left ventricular hypertrophy** itself. *Aortic Regurgitation* - **Aortic regurgitation** leads to a **volume overload** on the left ventricle as blood flows back into the ventricle during diastole. - This typically results in **eccentric hypertrophy**, where both the ventricular wall thickness and chamber size increase significantly (dilated ventricle with increased mass) [1]. *Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy* - **Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)** is a **primary genetic myocardial disease** characterized by **asymmetric septal hypertrophy** rather than uniform concentric hypertrophy. - While HOCM involves significant myocardial hypertrophy, it represents a distinct pathophysiologic entity with **asymmetric distribution** (predominantly septal), not the classic concentric pattern seen with pressure overload states. - The hypertrophy in HOCM is **intrinsic (genetic)** rather than **adaptive (hemodynamic)** like in aortic stenosis. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, p. 536. [2] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, pp. 562-563. [3] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Diseases of Infancy and Childhood, pp. 533-534.

Question 239: Which of the following statements is true regarding Ebstein anomaly?

A. Ebstein anomaly is characterized by right ventricular dilatation.
B. Ebstein anomaly is characterized by left ventricular dilatation.
C. Ebstein anomaly is characterized by left atrial dilatation.
D. Ebstein anomaly is characterized by right atrial dilatation. (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ***Ebstein anomaly is characterized by right atrial dilatation.*** - In **Ebstein anomaly**, the apical displacement of the septal and posterior leaflets of the **tricuspid valve** leads to a large, "atrialized" portion of the right ventricle, which effectively becomes part of the right atrium. - This anatomical alteration results in significant **right atrial dilatation** and a functionally reduced right ventricular cavity. *Ebstein anomaly is characterized by right ventricular dilatation.* - While there is an enlarged **right ventricular cavity**, a significant portion of it is functionally integrated into the **right atrium** due to leaflet displacement, making it "atrialized" rather than truly dilated as a pumping chamber. - The effective **functional right ventricle** is often small and hypoplastic, leading to right ventricular dysfunction rather than frank dilatation of the pumping part. *Ebstein anomaly is characterized by left ventricular dilatation.* - **Ebstein anomaly** primarily affects the **right side of the heart**, specifically the tricuspid valve and right ventricle/atrium. - There is no direct anatomical or functional link that would cause **left ventricular dilatation** as a primary characteristic of Ebstein anomaly. *Ebstein anomaly is characterized by left atrial dilatation.* - Similar to the left ventricle, the **left atrium** is generally unaffected in **Ebstein anomaly**. - The pathological changes are localized to the **tricuspid valve** and the **right heart chambers**.

Question 240: The MOST COMMON cause of concentric hypertrophy of left ventricle is?

A. Hypertension (Correct Answer)
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Mitral stenosis
D. Aortic regurgitation

Explanation: ***Hypertension*** - Chronic **hypertension** is the most common cause of **pressure overload** on the left ventricle, leading to concentric hypertrophy [1]. - In response to the increased afterload, the ventricular wall thickens uniformly inward, reducing the chamber size while maintaining normal wall stress [2]. - Due to its high prevalence (30-40% of adults), hypertension is epidemiologically the most frequent cause of concentric LVH [1]. *Aortic stenosis* - While **aortic stenosis** is the classic pathological cause of **pressure overload** and concentric hypertrophy [2], **hypertension** is more prevalent in the population. - Aortic stenosis causes fixed outflow obstruction, leading to significant pressure work for the left ventricle. - This is the second most common cause but occurs in only 2-5% of elderly patients. *Mitral stenosis* - **Mitral stenosis** primarily causes pressure overload on the **left atrium** and **pulmonary circulation**, not the left ventricle. - It doesn't typically lead to **left ventricular hypertrophy** directly; instead, it causes left atrial enlargement and right ventricular hypertrophy. *Aortic regurgitation* - **Aortic regurgitation** results in **volume overload** of the left ventricle due to blood flowing back into the chamber during diastole. - This typically leads to **eccentric hypertrophy**, where the chamber dilates and the wall thickens proportionally, rather than concentric hypertrophy [2]. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, pp. 560-562. [2] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Heart, p. 536.

Practice by Chapter

Congenital Heart Disease

Practice Questions

Ischemic Heart Disease

Practice Questions

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Practice Questions

Valvular Heart Disease

Practice Questions

Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathies

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Pericardial Disease

Practice Questions

Cardiac Tumors

Practice Questions

Heart Failure Pathophysiology

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Cardiac Transplantation Pathology

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Endocarditis

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