A 42-year-old woman presents with a painful boil on her right forearm. On examination there is a 2 cm fluctuant swelling with surrounding erythema and warmth. Aspiration yields creamy yellow pus. Histologically, the lesion shows a central zone of necrotic neutrophils and debris surrounded by a rim of proliferating fibroblasts and new blood vessels. Which of the following best describes the predominant pattern of necrosis at the center of this lesion?
- A Caseous necrosis
- B Fat necrosis
- C Liquefactive necrosis ✓
- D Coagulative necrosis
Correct answer: C. Liquefactive necrosis
Explanation
Bacterial abscesses are the classic example of liquefactive necrosis, in which the enzymatic digestion of dead cells by neutrophil-derived hydrolases converts the tissue to liquid pus. Coagulative necrosis preserves the tissue architecture and is typical of ischemic infarcts. Caseous necrosis, seen in tuberculosis, has a cheese-like gross appearance with a granulomatous wall. Fat necrosis follows lipase release in the pancreas or breast trauma.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.