Nuclear medicine: bone scan flare: 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: bone scan flare

Sample item

Three months after starting hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, a patient with falling PSA and improving symptoms has a bone scan showing increased uptake in known lesions and a few new foci. What is the best interpretation?

AA technical error of tracer doseBResolution of all metastasesCDefinite disease progression requiring change in therapyDFlare phenomenon indicating healing response, not progression

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Flare phenomenon indicating healing response, not progression

A flare is a transient rise in uptake due to osteoblastic repair in responding lesions, usually seen in the first months of effective therapy. Interpretation must integrate PSA and clinical response, and a repeat scan after a few months clarifies.

Option by option

A. A technical error of tracer dose
A dosing error would not be expected to selectively increase lesion uptake.
B. Resolution of all metastases
Complete resolution would reduce, not increase, uptake.
C. Definite disease progression requiring change in therapy
The falling PSA and symptom relief argue against progression.
D. Flare phenomenon indicating healing response, not progression (correct)
Correct. Flare reflects bone healing in responding metastases.

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 D, Flare phenomenon indicating healing response, not progression. A flare is a transient rise in uptake due to osteoblastic repair in responding lesions, usually seen in the first months of effective therapy.

Why is "A technical error of tracer dose" not the answer?

A dosing error would not be expected to selectively increase lesion uptake.

Why is "Resolution of all metastases" not the answer?

Complete resolution would reduce, not increase, uptake.

Why is "Definite disease progression requiring change in therapy" not the answer?

The falling PSA and symptom relief argue against progression.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: bone scan flare in Radiology. Interpretation must integrate PSA and clinical response, and a repeat scan after a few months clarifies.

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: bone scan flare?

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.