Free Practice Questions for Iran Specialty Board Pathology
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Key Facts: Iran Specialty Board Pathology Exam
202
Total multiple-choice questions on the national written board certification examination
Council for Medical and Specialized Education Guidelines
70% of the written total (105 of 150 points)
Minimum passing score required in the written exam to qualify for practical and oral board stations
Sanjesh Pezeshki Specialty Board Examination Regulations
300 min
Total written examination duration (5 hours), providing ~89 seconds per question
Sanjesh Pezeshki Examination Administration Procedures
0
Negative marking: incorrect answers receive zero points without penalty
Iranian Medical Specialty Board Examination Rules
2 Stages
Examination structure: Stage 1 Written MCQ followed by Stage 2 Practical Microscopic Slide Exam, OSCE & Oral Board
Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education
The Iranian Pathology Specialty Board Exam is a comprehensive two-stage certification process administered by Sanjesh Pezeshki. Candidates must first achieve at least 70% of the written total (105 of 150 points) on the 300-minute written MCQ exam without negative marking to advance to the multi-station microscopic slide practical, laboratory OSCE, and oral board examinations.
Sample Iran Specialty Board Pathology Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Iran Specialty Board Pathology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 58-year-old man undergoes endoscopic resection of a 2.5-cm gastric antral mass. Histologic section reveals non-cohesive signet-ring cells diffusely infiltrating the submucosa with marked desmoplasia. Which molecular alteration is most characteristically associated with this histological subtype of gastric adenocarcinoma?
2A 45-year-old woman presents with severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and tenesmus. Total proctocolectomy reveals continuous mucosal erythema and superficial ulceration extending from the rectum to the mid-transverse colon, with sharp demarcation from normal mucosa. Which histological feature is most characteristic of ulcerative colitis rather than Crohn disease?
3A screening colonoscopy in a 62-year-old woman reveals a 12-mm sessile polyp in the cecum. On biopsy, the polyp exhibits serrated architecture extending to the base of the crypts with prominent horizontal crypt branching ('boot-shaped' or 'anchor-shaped' crypt bases) and mature non-dysplastic surface mucinous epithelium. What is the most accurate diagnosis?
4A 54-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C undergoes liver transplantation. Histopathologic examination of the explanted liver demonstrates macronodular cirrhosis and a 3.5-cm solitary subcapsular hepatic mass. Which immunohistochemical panel profile best supports the diagnosis of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma over benign hepatic adenoma or regenerative nodules?
5A 60-year-old woman presents with a 6-cm subepithelial mass in the gastric fundus. Microscopic examination demonstrates a fascicular proliferation of uniform spindle cells with blunt-ended nuclei, perinuclear vacuolization, and 2 mitoses per 5 mm². On immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells are diffusely positive for CD117 (c-KIT) and DOG1, and negative for S100 and desmin. What is the definitive diagnosis?
6A 48-year-old man undergoes endoscopic biopsy of the distal esophagus for refractory heartburn. The biopsy displays replacement of stratified squamous epithelium by columnar epithelium containing alcian blue-positive goblet cells. Which finding on this biopsy specifically establishes the diagnosis of Barrett esophagus with high-grade dysplasia?
7A 65-year-old man presents with painless obstructive jaundice and significant weight loss. Abdominal CT demonstrates a 3-cm hypoattenuating mass in the head of the pancreas causing the 'double-duct' sign. Whipple resection confirms infiltrating tubular glands embedded in an abundant, dense desmoplastic stroma. Which genetic alteration is present in more than 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas?
8A 38-year-old woman with a history of recurrent cholangitis and ulcerative colitis undergoes liver biopsy. Histology shows concentric 'onion-skin' periductal fibrosis obliterating medium and small intrahepatic bile ducts, accompanied by lymphocytic infiltrate and ductopenia. What is the most likely diagnosis?
9A 32-year-old man undergoes resection of a 1.2-cm solitary, well-demarcated nodule in the tail of the pancreas discovered incidentally. Histology reveals monotonous cells with finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei displaying 'salt-and-pepper' chromatin, arranged in nests and ribbons separated by delicate vascular stroma. What is the expected immunohistochemical profile of this neoplasm?
10A 52-year-old man presents with chronic iron-deficiency anemia. Colonoscopy reveals an exophytic mass in the ascending colon. Histology confirms invasive poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with prominent medullary architecture and marked intratumoral lymphocytic infiltration. Immunohistochemistry shows loss of MLH1 and PMS2 nuclear expression with intact MSH2 and MSH6. What is the most appropriate next molecular diagnostic test?
About the Iran Specialty Board Pathology Exam
The Iranian Medical Specialty Board Examination in Pathology (آزمون دانشنامه تخصصی آسیبشناسی بالینی و تشریحی - commonly known as 'Board-e Takhasosi-e Pathology' or 'Daneshnameh Asibshenasi') is the definitive national certifying examination in anatomic pathology and clinical laboratory medicine in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Administered annually by the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education in conjunction with the National Center for Health Assessment (مرکز سنجش آموزش پزشکی - Sanjesh Pezeshki), successful completion confers full Board Certification (دانشنامه تخصصی). This credential is required for academic medical faculty appointments, directing accredited clinical and anatomic pathology laboratories, and entry into subspecialty fellowship programs (such as hematopathology, cytopathology, dermatopathology, and molecular pathology). In Iran, pathology is structured as a comprehensive four-year dual-track residency covering both Anatomic Pathology (Surgical Pathology, Autopsy, and Cytopathology) and Clinical Pathology (Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Serology, and Transfusion Medicine). The national board curriculum is anchored by internationally recognized benchmark treatises designated by the national board board examining committee: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease for anatomic pathology and Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods for clinical pathology and laboratory medicine. The written examination tests 202 multiple-choice questions across six major domains: Surgical Pathology of the GI, Hepatobiliary, Pancreas & Peritoneum (~18%); Breast, Female & Male Genitourinary, Endocrine & Pulmonary Surgical Pathology (~20%); Hematopathology & Lymph Node Pathology (~18%); Clinical Chemistry, Medical Microbiology & Serology (~16%); Transfusion Medicine & Blood Banking (~14%); and Cytopathology, Molecular Pathology & Laboratory Management/QC (~14%). This practice question bank is an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation authored by OpenExamPrep. It features 100 board-level clinical and laboratory scenarios with comprehensive diagnostic rationales and systematic distractor breakdowns to assist pathology residents and candidates in mastering high-yield concepts. The official Iranian examination is delivered in Persian; this resource is an independent educational study adaptation and is neither an official translation nor endorsed by Sanjesh Pezeshki.
Exam sponsor: Council for Medical and Specialized Education & National Center for Health Assessment (Sanjesh Pezeshki / مرکز سنجش آموزش پزشکی). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
The Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Pathology is administered annually in late summer (Shahrivar / September) at central examination venues under the supervision of the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education and Sanjesh Pezeshki. The certification consists of two sequential stages: Stage 1 is the comprehensive Written Board Examination comprising 202 four-option multiple-choice questions administered over a single 300-minute session (5 hours) with no negative marking. The passing threshold is exactly 70% (141 raw points out of 202). Candidates satisfying this requirement qualify for Stage 2, the Practical and Oral Board Examination (آزمون شفاهی، ساختارمند و میکروسکوپی / OSCE), which tests microscopic slide interpretation (spot diagnostic stations and extended slide reviews), gross surgical specimen evaluation, frozen section management, clinical pathology laboratory data analysis, and oral defense before senior academic examiners.
Time Limit
300 minutes
Passing Score
70% of the written total (105 of 150 points)
Exam / Certification Fees
Set annually by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, payable online via sanjeshp.ir during official board candidacy registration
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Surgical Pathology: GI, Hepatobiliary, Pancreas & Peritoneum
Gastric adenocarcinoma (Lauren intestinal vs. diffuse types), Helicobacter pylori gastritis, autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST, c-KIT/DOG1 immunohistochemistry and risk stratification), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease vs. ulcerative colitis histological discrimination), colorectal polyps (tubular, villous, sessile serrated adenoma/polyp), microsatellite instability (MSI-H / Lynch syndrome MMR IHC), viral and autoimmune hepatitis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH), cirrhosis staging, hepatocellular carcinoma vs. intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Surgical Pathology: Breast, Female & Male Genitourinary, Endocrine & Pulmonary
Invasive ductal vs. invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast, Nottingham histologic grading, breast biomarker interpretation (ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67), endometrial hyperplasia vs. endometrioid carcinoma, high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (p53 mutation), cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL/HSIL, p16/Ki-67 dual staining), testicular germ cell tumors (seminoma vs. nonseminomatous tumors), prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason score and ISUP Grade Groups), renal cell carcinoma subtypes (clear cell, papillary, chromophobe), urothelial carcinoma (flat vs. papillary), thyroid follicular adenoma vs. papillary thyroid carcinoma (nuclear features, BRAF mutations), and lung non-small cell carcinomas (TTF-1, p40 IHC).
Hematopathology & Lymph Node Pathology
Acute myeloid leukemia (WHO/ICC classification, cytogenetic risk stratification), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL vs. T-ALL flow cytometry panels), myeloproliferative neoplasms (polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, primary myelofibrosis, JAK2/CALR/MPL mutations), myelodysplastic syndromes, reactive follicular and paracortical hyperplasia, mature B-cell neoplasms (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma [cyclin D1/SOX11], marginal zone lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma [c-MYC translocation]), classical Hodgkin lymphoma (Reed-Sternberg cells, CD30/CD15), and plasma cell myeloma (bone marrow plasma cell percentage, serum protein electrophoresis, free light chains).
Clinical Pathology: Clinical Chemistry, Medical Microbiology & Serology
Serum and urine protein electrophoresis (monoclonal gammopathy detection, immunofixation), acid-base balance and blood gas interpretation (anion gap metabolic acidosis), cardiac biomarkers (high-sensitivity troponin, kinetics of elevation), hepatic panel enzyme patterns (cholestatic vs. hepatocellular injury, AST/ALT ratios), clinical bacteriology identification (Gram-positive cocci, Enterobacterales, non-fermenting Gram-negative rods), antimicrobial susceptibility testing (MIC interpretation, CLSI/EUCAST breakpoints, ESBL/carbapenemase detection), diagnostic mycology, parasitology (intestinal and blood protozoa/helminths), and autoimmune serology (ANA patterns, ANCA, anti-CCP).
Clinical Pathology: Transfusion Medicine & Blood Banking
ABO/Rh forward and reverse typing discrepancies, unexpected red blood cell alloantibody identification (3-cell screen and 11-cell panel interpretation, enzyme treatment, neutralization), compatibility testing and crossmatching techniques, component preparation and storage (PRBC, platelets, FFP, cryoprecipitate), acute transfusion reactions (acute hemolytic, febrile non-hemolytic, allergic, TRALI, TACO), delayed transfusion reactions (delayed hemolytic, transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease), hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (RhIG prophylaxis dosage and Kleihauer-Betke test), and transfusion-transmitted infection screening.
Cytopathology, Molecular Pathology & Laboratory Management/QC
Gynecologic cytology (The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology), non-gynecologic exfoliative cytology (serous effusions, urine, cerebrospinal fluid), fine-needle aspiration biopsy (Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology, Milan System for Salivary Gland Cytopathology), molecular diagnostics (polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence in situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing assays, liquid biopsy), statistical quality control (Levey-Jennings charts, Westgard multi-rules [1-2s, 1-3s, 2-2s, R-4s, 4-1s, 10-x], systematic vs. random error resolution), method validation, preanalytical/analytical/postanalytical phase management, and laboratory accreditation safety standards.
Preparing for the Iran Specialty Board Pathology Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70% of the written total (105 of 150 points)
- Assessment: The Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Pathology is administered annually in late summer (Shahrivar / September) at central examination venues under the supervision of the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education and Sanjesh Pezeshki. The certification consists of two sequential stages: Stage 1 is the comprehensive Written Board Examination comprising 202 four-option multiple-choice questions administered over a single 300-minute session (5 hours) with no negative marking. The passing threshold is exactly 70% (141 raw points out of 202). Candidates satisfying this requirement qualify for Stage 2, the Practical and Oral Board Examination (آزمون شفاهی، ساختارمند و میکروسکوپی / OSCE), which tests microscopic slide interpretation (spot diagnostic stations and extended slide reviews), gross surgical specimen evaluation, frozen section management, clinical pathology laboratory data analysis, and oral defense before senior academic examiners.
- Time limit: 300 minutes
- Exam / certification fees: Set annually by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, payable online via sanjeshp.ir during official board candidacy registration Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Iran Specialty Board Pathology: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Pathology (Daneshnameh Takhasosi Asibshenasi)?
The Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Pathology (آزمون دانشنامه تخصصی آسیبشناسی بالینی و تشریحی) is the definitive national certifying examination administered by the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) through Sanjesh Pezeshki. Successful completion of both the written and practical/oral examinations certifies candidates as fully qualified pathologists in both Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP), qualifying them for academic faculty posts, specialized laboratory directorship, and subspecialty fellowship training.
How is the Pathology residency structured in Iran compared to other international systems?
In Iran, pathology training is an integrated four-year combined curriculum encompassing both Anatomic Pathology (surgical pathology, autopsy, and cytopathology) and Clinical Pathology (hematology, clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, parasitology, immunology/serology, and transfusion medicine/blood banking). Unlike countries with separate single-track pathways, all Iranian board candidates are comprehensively examined in both disciplines.
What is the format of the written board examination and what is the passing threshold?
The written board examination consists of 202 four-option multiple-choice questions administered in a single continuous 300-minute session (5 hours). There is no negative marking for incorrect responses. Examinees must achieve a score of at least 70% (141 raw points out of 202) to pass the written stage and earn eligibility for the practical microscopic and oral board examination.
What does the second stage (Microscopic Practical, OSCE, and Oral Board) involve?
The practical examination (آزمون ساختارمند، عملی و شفاهی) is held shortly after the written exam in Tehran. It includes timed microscopic diagnostic glass slide stations (spot diagnoses and complex histological reviews in surgical pathology, cytopathology, and hematopathology), gross surgical specimen identification and grossing protocols, frozen section simulation, laboratory medicine data interpretation (flow cytometry plots, protein electrophoresis, blood bank panels, microbiology isolates), and structured oral interviews with senior academic board examiners.
Which textbooks and references are the designated sources for the Iranian Pathology Board?
The primary official designated reference textbooks are Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (Vinay Kumar, Abul Abbas, Jon Aster) for anatomic and general pathology, and Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods (Richard McPherson, Matthew Pincus) for clinical laboratory medicine, hematopathology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, and transfusion medicine. Current WHO Classifications of Tumours ('Blue Books') and standard clinical guidelines are also integrated.
Is this OpenExamPrep question bank an official Sanjesh Pezeshki study tool?
No. This question bank is an independent English-language multiple-choice practice adaptation authored by OpenExamPrep for conceptual review and advanced board exam preparation. The official Iranian specialty board examination is administered in Persian by Sanjesh Pezeshki and the Council for Medical and Specialized Education. This resource is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official translation of Sanjesh Pezeshki or the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.