Neuropathology Practice Questions

Q: A retraction ball is seen after injury to which organ?

Brain. **Explanation:** **Retraction balls** (also known as axonal bulbs) are the hallmark histopathological feature of **Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)** in the **Brain**. [1] 1. **Why Brain is Correct:** When the brain undergoes sudden acceleration or deceleration (as seen in motor vehicle accidents or falls), shearing forces act on the long white matter tracts. This mechanical stress causes the stretching and tearing of axons. The damage disrupts the normal axoplasmic flow; proteins and organelles transported from the cell body begin to accumulate at the site of the break. This leads to the focal swelling of the proximal axonal stump, which appears microscopically as an eosinophilic, rounded, or club-shaped structure called a **retraction ball**. These are best visualized using **Silver stains** or **Beta-Amyloid Precursor Protein (̢̢β-APP)** immunohistochemistry. 2. **Why Incorrect Options are Wrong:** * **Liver, Spleen, and Kidney:** These are solid visceral organs. Injury to these organs typically results in hemorrhage, infarction, or laceration. They do not contain long, myelinated axonal processes that exhibit the specific physiological "retraction" and swelling seen in neural tissue. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **DAI Locations:** Most commonly involves the **Corpus Callosum** and the **Dorsolateral Pons**. [1] * **Clinical Correlation:** DAI is a frequent cause of persistent vegetative state or immediate post-traumatic coma despite a normal initial CT scan. * **Staining:** While H&E shows them after 24–48 hours, **β-APP staining** can detect axonal damage as early as 2–3 hours post-injury. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. The Central Nervous System, pp. 1261-1264.

Question 1

What is the commonest spinal tumour?

Accepted Answer

Neurofibroma

Answer

Meningioma

Answer

Ependymoma

Answer

Neuroblastoma

Question 2

In Alzheimer's disease, what is the characteristic pathological finding in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Atrophy of parietal and temporal lobes

Answer

Atrophy of temporal lobes

Answer

Atrophy of temporal and occipital lobes

Answer

Atrophy of parietal and occipital lobes

Question 3

In cases of non-hemorrhagic infarct in the cerebrum, reactive astrocytes can be seen as early as what time period after the insult?

Accepted Answer

1 week

Answer

1 hour

Answer

1 day

Answer

1 month

Question 4

A retraction ball is seen after injury to which organ?

Accepted Answer

Brain

Answer

Liver

Answer

Spleen

Answer

Kidney

Question 5

Neurofibrillary tangles with senile plaques are seen in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease

Answer

Parkinson's disease

Answer

Schizophrenia

Answer

Tuberous sclerosis

Question 6

Laminar necrosis and watershed infarcts are most suggestive of which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Shock

Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Fat emboli

Answer

Vascular thrombosis

Question 7

What are the pathological lesions in the CNS in rabies?

Accepted Answer

Brainstem encephalitis

Answer

Cranial nerve arteritis

Answer

Neuronal loss

Answer

Neurofibrillary tangles

Question 8

Senile plaques in the brain are a characteristic feature of which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease

Answer

Multiple sclerosis

Answer

Parkinsonism

Answer

Wilson's disease

Question 9

Duret hemorrhage is typically seen in which anatomical location?

Accepted Answer

Brain stem

Answer

Brain

Answer

Eye

Answer

Medulla

Question 10

Which type of herniation leads to brain stem injury?

Accepted Answer

Cerebellar tonsils

Answer

Cingulate

Answer

Hippocampal

Answer

Subfalcine

Neuropathology — MCQs

Neuropathology — MCQs

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