SBA — Single Best Answer · Review
Question 417
Pathology → General
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
Microscopy shows isolated shrunken cells with condensed chromatin, nuclear fragmentation and membrane-bound cellular fragments. The surrounding tissue shows no inflammatory reaction. Which process best accounts for these findings?
Question Stem
Select the single best answer.
Options
A
Coagulative necrosis
B
Liquefactive necrosis
C
Apoptosis
D
Caseous necrosis
E
Fibrinoid necrosis
Explanation
Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterised by cellular shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Unlike necrosis, it does not provoke the surrounding inflammatory response characteristic of tissue injury.
Option Validity
A) Coagulative necrosis is an irreversible injury pattern associated with necrotic cell death and inflammation, not isolated apoptotic bodies without inflammation.
B) Liquefactive necrosis is a necrotic pattern and does not fit the programmed, non-inflammatory process described.
D) Caseous necrosis produces the characteristic cheese-like necrotic appearance associated particularly with tuberculosis.
E) Fibrinoid necrosis is a distinct form of necrosis and does not produce the described apoptotic morphology.
Further Reading
Saxena R. Textbook for MRCOG-1. Chapter 5: Pathology. General Pathology, pp.161–175.