A patient receiving long-term phenobarbital therapy has liver biopsy showing smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) hypertrophy. This represents which type of cellular adaptation?
- A Hyperplasia
- B Metaplasia
- C Hypertrophy ✓
- D Dysplasia
Correct answer: C. Hypertrophy
Explanation
SER hypertrophy in hepatocytes in response to phenobarbital (or alcohol) represents cellular hypertrophy at the organelle level—an increase in organelle size and number to handle increased metabolic demand (drug metabolism by CYP450 enzymes). This is a reversible adaptation. Hyperplasia involves cell number increase; metaplasia is a change in cell type; dysplasia involves atypical cellular changes.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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