Histology Certification Pathological Changes 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which cellular adaptation is defined as an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ?
- Hypertrophy
- Hyperplasia (Correct answer)
- Metaplasia
- Dysplasia
Correct answer: Hyperplasia
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number (proliferation), while hypertrophy is an increase in cell size.
Question 2: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of which type of cellular adaptation?
- Squamous metaplasia
- Glandular metaplasia (Correct answer)
- Hyperplasia
- Dysplasia
Correct answer: Glandular metaplasia
In Barrett's esophagus, chronic acid reflux causes normal stratified squamous epithelium to be replaced by columnar (intestinal-type) glandular epithelium — a metaplasia.
Question 3: Atrophy caused by loss of innervation to skeletal muscle is best classified as which type?
- Disuse atrophy
- Denervation atrophy (Correct answer)
- Pressure atrophy
- Ischemic atrophy
Correct answer: Denervation atrophy
Denervation atrophy results from loss of trophic nerve supply to muscle, causing rapid muscle wasting.
Question 4: In dysplasia, which of the following histological features is NOT typically observed?
- Pleomorphism
- Increased mitotic figures
- Loss of polarity
- Invasion through the basement membrane (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Invasion through the basement membrane
Dysplasia by definition remains confined above the basement membrane; invasion through it indicates carcinoma.
Question 5: Physiological hyperplasia of the breast during pregnancy is driven primarily by which hormone?
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Estrogen and progesterone (Correct answer)
- Prolactin alone
- Oxytocin
Correct answer: Estrogen and progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone together drive ductal and lobular hyperplasia in the breast during pregnancy.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the significance of cellular atypia seen in dysplasia on a Pap smear?
- It represents irreversible malignant transformation
- It may regress, persist, or progress to carcinoma in situ (Correct answer)
- It always requires immediate surgical resection
- It indicates hematogenous metastasis has occurred
Correct answer: It may regress, persist, or progress to carcinoma in situ
Dysplastic changes on Pap smear can regress spontaneously, remain stable, or progress to carcinoma in situ depending on the grade and HPV status.
Question 7: Intracellular accumulation of lipids within hepatocytes leading to a yellow, greasy liver is called:
- Glycogenosis
- Hepatic steatosis (fatty change) (Correct answer)
- Hemosiderosis
- Cholestasis
Correct answer: Hepatic steatosis (fatty change)
Hepatic steatosis (fatty change) is the accumulation of triglycerides within hepatocyte cytoplasm, producing a macrovesicular or microvesicular pattern on H&E.
Histology Certification Pathological Changes 3
Which cellular adaptation is defined as an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ?