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NBME PATHOLOGY EXAM 2025 BRAND
NEW ACTUAL EXAM WITH ANSWERS.
PARANEOPLASTIC SYNDROMES--1,25 (OH)2D3
(CALCITROL): - correct answer -Causes hypercalcemia--
>hodgkin lymphoma and some non-hodgkin lymphomas
ACTH: - correct answer -cushing syndrome-->small cell lung
carcinoma
ADH: - correct answer -SIADH-->small cell lung carcinoma,
intracranial neoplasms
Antibodies against presynaptic Ca2+ channels at NMJ: - correct
answer -Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (muscle
weakness)-->small cell lung carcinoma
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EPO: - correct answer -polycythemia-->renal cell carcinoma,
thymoma, hemangioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma,
leiomyoma, pheochromocytoma
PTHrP: - correct answer -hypercalcemia-->squamous cell lung
carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer
What are Psammoma bodies? - correct answer -laminated,
concentric, calcific spherules. Seen in: papillary carcinoma of the
thyroid, serous papillary cystadenocarcinoma of ovary,
meningioma, malignant mesothelioma
What cancers have the highest incidence in men? - correct
answer -prostate > lung > colon / rectum.
What cancers have highest incidence in women? - correct answer
-breast > lung > colon / rectum. Note: lung cancer incidence has
dropped in men but not in women, it's remained the same.
What cancers have the highest mortality for men? - correct
answer -Lung > prostate
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What cancers have the highest mortality for women? - correct
answer -lung > breast
What is the first leading cause of death in US? Second? - correct
answer -1. Heart disease 2. Cancer
Primary tumors that metastasize to the brain (in order of
frequency): - correct answer -lung > breast > genitourinary >
osteosarcoma > melanoma > GI.
What % of brain tumors are from metastases? How do they
appear? - correct answer -50%. They appear as multiple, well-
circumscribed tumors at gray / white matter junction
Primary tumors that metastasize to liver: - correct answer -colon
>> stomach > pancreas.
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What are the most common sites of metastasis after regional
lymph nodes? - correct answer -liver and lung
Primary tumors that metastasize to bone: - correct answer -
prostate (blastic), breast (lytic and blastic) > lung > thyroid
T/F: bone metastases are more common than primary bone
tumors. - correct answer -TRUE. much more common.
Apoptosis: - correct answer -Programmed cell death. REQUIRES
ATP. Can occur via the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, both of
which involve activation of cytosolic caspases which mediate
cellular breakdown. ***Unlike necrosis, apoptosis does not involve
significant inflammation. Involves eosinophilic cytoplasm, cell
shrinkage, pyknosis and basophilia, membrane blebbing and
karyorrhexis, and formation of apoptotic bodies which are
phagocytosed. **DNA laddering is a sensitive indicator of
apoptosis** Occurs because during karyorrhexis endonucleases
yield 180bp fragments.
Radiation therapy does what? - correct answer -Causes apoptosis
of cancer cells because it causes formation of free radicals which
NBME PATHOLOGY EXAM 2025 BRAND
NEW ACTUAL EXAM WITH ANSWERS.
PARANEOPLASTIC SYNDROMES--1,25 (OH)2D3
(CALCITROL): - correct answer -Causes hypercalcemia--
>hodgkin lymphoma and some non-hodgkin lymphomas
ACTH: - correct answer -cushing syndrome-->small cell lung
carcinoma
ADH: - correct answer -SIADH-->small cell lung carcinoma,
intracranial neoplasms
Antibodies against presynaptic Ca2+ channels at NMJ: - correct
answer -Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (muscle
weakness)-->small cell lung carcinoma
, Page | 2
EPO: - correct answer -polycythemia-->renal cell carcinoma,
thymoma, hemangioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma,
leiomyoma, pheochromocytoma
PTHrP: - correct answer -hypercalcemia-->squamous cell lung
carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer
What are Psammoma bodies? - correct answer -laminated,
concentric, calcific spherules. Seen in: papillary carcinoma of the
thyroid, serous papillary cystadenocarcinoma of ovary,
meningioma, malignant mesothelioma
What cancers have the highest incidence in men? - correct
answer -prostate > lung > colon / rectum.
What cancers have highest incidence in women? - correct answer
-breast > lung > colon / rectum. Note: lung cancer incidence has
dropped in men but not in women, it's remained the same.
What cancers have the highest mortality for men? - correct
answer -Lung > prostate
, Page | 3
What cancers have the highest mortality for women? - correct
answer -lung > breast
What is the first leading cause of death in US? Second? - correct
answer -1. Heart disease 2. Cancer
Primary tumors that metastasize to the brain (in order of
frequency): - correct answer -lung > breast > genitourinary >
osteosarcoma > melanoma > GI.
What % of brain tumors are from metastases? How do they
appear? - correct answer -50%. They appear as multiple, well-
circumscribed tumors at gray / white matter junction
Primary tumors that metastasize to liver: - correct answer -colon
>> stomach > pancreas.
, Page | 4
What are the most common sites of metastasis after regional
lymph nodes? - correct answer -liver and lung
Primary tumors that metastasize to bone: - correct answer -
prostate (blastic), breast (lytic and blastic) > lung > thyroid
T/F: bone metastases are more common than primary bone
tumors. - correct answer -TRUE. much more common.
Apoptosis: - correct answer -Programmed cell death. REQUIRES
ATP. Can occur via the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, both of
which involve activation of cytosolic caspases which mediate
cellular breakdown. ***Unlike necrosis, apoptosis does not involve
significant inflammation. Involves eosinophilic cytoplasm, cell
shrinkage, pyknosis and basophilia, membrane blebbing and
karyorrhexis, and formation of apoptotic bodies which are
phagocytosed. **DNA laddering is a sensitive indicator of
apoptosis** Occurs because during karyorrhexis endonucleases
yield 180bp fragments.
Radiation therapy does what? - correct answer -Causes apoptosis
of cancer cells because it causes formation of free radicals which
