American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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Prepare for the ABS QE with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Start your journey to becoming a certified surgeon and tackle your exam with confidence!

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In the context of gastric carcinoids, what is the expected behavior of a lesion classified as 'multiple' and at a size of less than 1 cm?

Rapid growth with frequent metastasis
Indolent with low metastatic potential
Aggressive with high metastatic potential
Moderate growth with localized spread

The correct answer is: Indolent with low metastatic potential

A gastric carcinoid classified as 'multiple' and less than 1 cm in size is generally considered to be indolent with a low potential for metastasis. This is in line with the typical behavior of these tumors, which are neuroendocrine in origin. Gastric carcinoids can be categorized based on their characteristics and locations within the stomach, with the multiple type often associated with chronic atrophic gastritis or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The smaller the lesions are, particularly when they are under 1 cm, the more likely they are to exhibit a benign course, leading to a low incidence of metastasis. Most gastric carcinoids behave in a way that reflects their small size and multiplicity, indicating that they are less aggressive compared to larger, solitary carcinoids, which might have different biological behavior and higher metastatic potential. In summary, the understanding of gastric carcinoids' biology helps to recognize that smaller, multiple lesions typically demonstrate an indolent nature with relatively low risks of aggressive behavior or widespread metastatic spread.