Nuclear medicine: super scan: 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 · Nuclear medicine: super scan

Sample item

A technetium-99m MDP bone scan shows intense, diffusely increased skeletal uptake with absent renal and bladder activity. What is the best interpretation?

AA super scan from widespread skeletal metastases or metabolic bone diseaseBA normal examinationCIsolated bilateral renal agenesisDTechnical failure with no uptake

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A super scan from widespread skeletal metastases or metabolic bone disease

In a super scan, the skeleton takes up most of the tracer so very little reaches the kidneys and bladder. Diffuse prostate or breast metastases and conditions like hyperparathyroidism can produce it.

Option by option

A. A super scan from widespread skeletal metastases or metabolic bone disease (correct)
Correct. High bone uptake with faint soft tissue and renal activity defines a super scan.
B. A normal examination
A normal scan shows visible renal and bladder activity.
C. Isolated bilateral renal agenesis
Agenesis does not give intense diffuse skeletal uptake.
D. Technical failure with no uptake
The skeletal uptake here is increased, not absent.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, A super scan from widespread skeletal metastases or metabolic bone disease. In a super scan, the skeleton takes up most of the tracer so very little reaches the kidneys and bladder.

Why is "A normal examination" not the answer?

A normal scan shows visible renal and bladder activity.

Why is "Isolated bilateral renal agenesis" not the answer?

Agenesis does not give intense diffuse skeletal uptake.

Why is "Technical failure with no uptake" not the answer?

The skeletal uptake here is increased, not absent.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: super scan in Radiology. Diffuse prostate or breast metastases and conditions like hyperparathyroidism can produce it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Nuclear medicine: super scan?

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.