Radiotherapy: spinal cord tolerance: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Radiotherapy: spinal cord tolerance

Sample item

A planned radiotherapy dose to a segment of the spinal cord will exceed its tolerance with conventional fractionation. Which late complication is feared?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Radiation myelitis causing paraparesis

The cord tolerates about 45 to 50 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, and dose above this risks late myelopathy after months. Planning therefore keeps the cord dose under the tolerance limit.

Option by option

  • A. Radiation cataract

    Cataract relates to dose to the lens.

  • B. Radiation myelitis causing paraparesis (correct)

    Correct. Late myelitis is the cord-specific complication.

  • C. Acute dermatitis

    Dermatitis is an acute skin effect and not specific to cord dose.

  • D. Acute mucositis

    Mucositis is an acute effect on mucosa.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is B, Radiation myelitis causing paraparesis. The cord tolerates about 45 to 50 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, and dose above this risks late myelopathy after months.

Why is "Radiation cataract" not the answer?

Cataract relates to dose to the lens.

Why is "Acute dermatitis" not the answer?

Dermatitis is an acute skin effect and not specific to cord dose.

Why is "Acute mucositis" not the answer?

Mucositis is an acute effect on mucosa.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy: spinal cord tolerance in Radiology. Planning therefore keeps the cord dose under the tolerance limit.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Radiotherapy: spinal cord tolerance?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.