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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What is the primary characteristic of a type 1 gastric carcinoid?

Rapid growth and frequent metastasis
Size greater than 1 cm
Multiple and slow growth
Associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

The correct answer is: Multiple and slow growth

The primary characteristic of a type 1 gastric carcinoid is indeed its multiple occurrence and slow growth. Type 1 gastric carcinoids are typically associated with chronic atrophic gastritis, often due to autoimmune conditions, which leads to hyperplasia of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in the gastric mucosa. As these carcinoids arise from the hyperplastic ECL cells, they often present as multiple small tumors, usually less than 1 cm in size, and they grow slowly over time. In contrast to type 1 carcinoids, other gastric carcinoids, such as type 2 and type 3, may exhibit different characteristics, including potential for faster growth or even metastasis. For example, type 2 carcinoids are associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and can exhibit more aggressive behavior, while type 3 carcinoids are typically larger and can be more malignant. Therefore, it's important to recognize the distinct features of type 1 gastric carcinoids that set them apart from other types.