Radiotherapy: second malignancy: 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: second malignancy

Sample item

A woman who received chest wall irradiation 12 years earlier now has an enlarging, painful mass in the irradiated field. Biopsy is most likely to show which tumour?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Sarcoma, such as angiosarcoma or osteosarcoma

Radiation-induced sarcoma arises within the irradiated field after a latent period usually exceeding 5 years. It is a recognised late stochastic effect of radiotherapy, with angiosarcoma and osteosarcoma among the types seen.

Option by option

  • A. Sarcoma, such as angiosarcoma or osteosarcoma (correct)

    Correct. Sarcoma in a prior field after a long latency fits radiation-induced malignancy.

  • B. Hodgkin lymphoma

    Hodgkin lymphoma is not the typical in-field second tumour.

  • C. Seminoma

    Seminoma is a germ cell tumour and unrelated to chest wall radiation.

  • D. Hepatoblastoma

    Hepatoblastoma is a paediatric liver tumour.

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.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Sarcoma, such as angiosarcoma or osteosarcoma. Radiation-induced sarcoma arises within the irradiated field after a latent period usually exceeding 5 years.

Why is "Hodgkin lymphoma" not the answer?

Hodgkin lymphoma is not the typical in-field second tumour.

Why is "Seminoma" not the answer?

Seminoma is a germ cell tumour and unrelated to chest wall radiation.

Why is "Hepatoblastoma" not the answer?

Hepatoblastoma is a paediatric liver tumour.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy: second malignancy in Radiology. It is a recognised late stochastic effect of radiotherapy, with angiosarcoma and osteosarcoma among the types seen.

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 Radiotherapy: second malignancy?

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.