NSG 6001 WEEK 3 QUESTIONS EXAM SCRIPT
2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ [3GHI] A 62-year-old ale presents with steatorrhea found to be
secondary to chronic pancreatitis. He reports drinking at least 6
beers a day but has never had withdrawal symptoms. He has lost 20
pounds. Which one of the following is the most common cause of
chronic pancreatitis?
A. Gallstones
B. Alcohol abuse
C. Hypertriglyceridemia
D. Hypercalcemia
E. Genetic. Answer: B. Alcohol abuse
Chronic pancreatitis is fibrosis of pancreatic parenchyma, secondary
to recurrent acute pancreatitis. Most common causes are alcohol in
adults & cystic fibrosis in kids; however, many cases are idiopathic. It
presents w/ epigastric abdominal pain radiating to back, pancreatic
insufficiency (malabsorption w/ steatorrhea & fat-soluble vitamin
deficiencies), dystrophic calcification of pancreas, & secondary
diabetes mellitus in later stages. Serum lipase & amylase are not
useful in diagnosis. There is increased risk for pancreatic carcinoma
as well.
,◉ [3GHI] A 23-year-old obese woman without any history of alcohol
abuse presents with severe abdominal pain radiating to the back.
Her serum amylase is 5 times the upper limit of normal. Which of
the following may have caused her condition?
A. Cholelithiasis
B. Cancer of pancreas
C. Alcohol
D. Cystic fibrosis
E. Mumps. Answer: A. Cholelithiasis
???
◉ [3GHI] Which one of the following is the most uncommon
pathologic feature of chronic pancreatitis?
A. Atrophy of acini
B. Diffuse fibrosis
C. Focal calcification
D. Islet cell hyperplasia
E. Squamous metaplasia of ducts. Answer: D. Islet cell hyperplasia
???
◉ [3GHI] A 59-year-old presents with jaundice and is found to have
pancreatic cancer. Where do the majority of these cancers occur?
A. Tail
,B. Head
C. Endocrine portion
D. Body
E. Body and tail. Answer: B. Head
Pancreatic carcinoma is adenocarcinoma arising from pancreatic
ducts. It is most commonly seen in elderly people, presenting w/
epigastric abdominal pain & weight loss. There is obstructive
jaundice w/ pale stools & palpable gallbladder if tumor is in head of
pancreas. There is secondary diabetes mellitus if tumor is in body or
tail of pancreas. Other symptoms include pancreatitis & migratory
thrombophlebitis (Trousseau syndrome). Major risk facts are
smoking & chronic pancreatitis. Serum tumor marker is CA 19-9.
Treat w/ Whipple procedure, which removes head & neck of
pancreas, duodenum, & gallbladder.
◉ [3GHI] In a patient with pancreatic cancer, which of the following
gene mutations is most commonly found?
A. KRAS2
B. BRCA
C. CTP53
D. P53
E. BCL2. Answer: A. KRAS2
???
, ◉ [3J] A 46-year-old woman with 3 children and a history of
gallstones presents with severe right upper quadrant pain, fever,
nausea, and vomiting. There is no jaundice. Her total white blood cell
count is abnormally high with 98% neutrophils (normal <60%).
Murphy sign is positive. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A: Cholesterolosis
B: Cancer of the gallbladder
C: Acute cholangitis
D: Acute pancreatitis
E: Acute cholecystitis. Answer: E: Acute cholecystitis
Acute cholecystitis is acute inflammation of gallbladder wall.
Impacted stone in cystic duct results in dilation w/ pressure
ischemia, bacterial overgrowth, & inflammation. This presents w/
RUQ pain radiating to right scapula. There is fever w/ elevated WBC
count, nausea, vomiting, increased serum ALP, & risk of rupture if
left untreated.
◉ [3J] About 15% of all adults develop gallstones, but 80% of those
adults are asymptomatic.
True/False. Answer: True
◉ [3J] Biliary colic presents with right abdominal pain after fatty
meal.
True/False. Answer: True
2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ [3GHI] A 62-year-old ale presents with steatorrhea found to be
secondary to chronic pancreatitis. He reports drinking at least 6
beers a day but has never had withdrawal symptoms. He has lost 20
pounds. Which one of the following is the most common cause of
chronic pancreatitis?
A. Gallstones
B. Alcohol abuse
C. Hypertriglyceridemia
D. Hypercalcemia
E. Genetic. Answer: B. Alcohol abuse
Chronic pancreatitis is fibrosis of pancreatic parenchyma, secondary
to recurrent acute pancreatitis. Most common causes are alcohol in
adults & cystic fibrosis in kids; however, many cases are idiopathic. It
presents w/ epigastric abdominal pain radiating to back, pancreatic
insufficiency (malabsorption w/ steatorrhea & fat-soluble vitamin
deficiencies), dystrophic calcification of pancreas, & secondary
diabetes mellitus in later stages. Serum lipase & amylase are not
useful in diagnosis. There is increased risk for pancreatic carcinoma
as well.
,◉ [3GHI] A 23-year-old obese woman without any history of alcohol
abuse presents with severe abdominal pain radiating to the back.
Her serum amylase is 5 times the upper limit of normal. Which of
the following may have caused her condition?
A. Cholelithiasis
B. Cancer of pancreas
C. Alcohol
D. Cystic fibrosis
E. Mumps. Answer: A. Cholelithiasis
???
◉ [3GHI] Which one of the following is the most uncommon
pathologic feature of chronic pancreatitis?
A. Atrophy of acini
B. Diffuse fibrosis
C. Focal calcification
D. Islet cell hyperplasia
E. Squamous metaplasia of ducts. Answer: D. Islet cell hyperplasia
???
◉ [3GHI] A 59-year-old presents with jaundice and is found to have
pancreatic cancer. Where do the majority of these cancers occur?
A. Tail
,B. Head
C. Endocrine portion
D. Body
E. Body and tail. Answer: B. Head
Pancreatic carcinoma is adenocarcinoma arising from pancreatic
ducts. It is most commonly seen in elderly people, presenting w/
epigastric abdominal pain & weight loss. There is obstructive
jaundice w/ pale stools & palpable gallbladder if tumor is in head of
pancreas. There is secondary diabetes mellitus if tumor is in body or
tail of pancreas. Other symptoms include pancreatitis & migratory
thrombophlebitis (Trousseau syndrome). Major risk facts are
smoking & chronic pancreatitis. Serum tumor marker is CA 19-9.
Treat w/ Whipple procedure, which removes head & neck of
pancreas, duodenum, & gallbladder.
◉ [3GHI] In a patient with pancreatic cancer, which of the following
gene mutations is most commonly found?
A. KRAS2
B. BRCA
C. CTP53
D. P53
E. BCL2. Answer: A. KRAS2
???
, ◉ [3J] A 46-year-old woman with 3 children and a history of
gallstones presents with severe right upper quadrant pain, fever,
nausea, and vomiting. There is no jaundice. Her total white blood cell
count is abnormally high with 98% neutrophils (normal <60%).
Murphy sign is positive. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A: Cholesterolosis
B: Cancer of the gallbladder
C: Acute cholangitis
D: Acute pancreatitis
E: Acute cholecystitis. Answer: E: Acute cholecystitis
Acute cholecystitis is acute inflammation of gallbladder wall.
Impacted stone in cystic duct results in dilation w/ pressure
ischemia, bacterial overgrowth, & inflammation. This presents w/
RUQ pain radiating to right scapula. There is fever w/ elevated WBC
count, nausea, vomiting, increased serum ALP, & risk of rupture if
left untreated.
◉ [3J] About 15% of all adults develop gallstones, but 80% of those
adults are asymptomatic.
True/False. Answer: True
◉ [3J] Biliary colic presents with right abdominal pain after fatty
meal.
True/False. Answer: True
