Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by inflammation with a multilocular mass?

1. Ectopic pregnancy

2. Tubo-ovarian abscess

3. Ovarian torsion

4. Functional ovarian cyst

The correct answer is: Tubo-ovarian abscess

The condition characterized by inflammation with a multilocular mass is indeed a tubo-ovarian abscess. This occurs as a result of an infection that typically starts in the fallopian tubes and can extend to involve the adjacent ovaries, leading to the formation of a mass that contains multiple locules or chambers of pus. This multilocular nature is a distinguishing feature of a tubo-ovarian abscess compared to other conditions. In ectopic pregnancy, there is often a solid mass rather than a multilocular pus-filled formation, and it is primarily characterized by implantation of the embryo outside the uterus. Ovarian torsion presents with acute abdominal pain due to the twisting of the ovary and does not typically result in a multilocular mass but instead in a swollen, potentially necrotic ovary. Functional ovarian cysts, on the other hand, are fluid-filled sacs that can develop on the ovaries but do not involve inflammation or the presence of pus, hence they do not constitute a multilocular mass in the same way seen in tubo-ovarian abscesses.