PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Which benign small bowel tumor is characterized by multiple lesions and is not visible on contrast studies?

1. GISTs

2. Hamartomas

3. Lipomas

4. Hemangiomas

The correct answer is: Hemangiomas

The benign small bowel tumor characterized by multiple lesions and not visible on contrast studies is hamartomas. Hamartomas are benign growths that include a mixture of tissues normally found in the bowel, such as smooth muscle, connective tissue, and epithelium. Due to their composition, hamartomas can often present as multiple lesions. Importantly, they may not be easily identified on standard contrast studies like CT scans or barium studies, which can lead to challenges in their detection, as these imaging modalities may not highlight the abnormal tissue effectively due to its structural similarity to normal bowel tissue. Other types of tumors, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and lipomas, typically have different imaging characteristics and might be visible on contrast studies due to their distinct tissue properties. GISTs, in particular, can appear as well-defined masses and may enhance with contrast. Hemangiomas, while benign vascular tumors, also generally show up on imaging with contrast due to their vascular nature. Thus, the characteristics of hamartomas align with the question's requirements more accurately than the other options.