Chest imaging: anterior mediastinal mass: 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.

Try it

Radiology · Chest imaging: anterior mediastinal mass

Sample item

A 45-year-old woman with fluctuating ptosis and diplopia has a smooth, lobulated anterior mediastinal mass on chest CT. What is the most likely mass?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Thymoma

Thymoma lies in the anterior mediastinum and is associated with myasthenia gravis in a third or so of cases. Anterior mediastinal masses are remembered as thymoma, teratoma and germ cell tumours, thyroid enlargement and terrible lymphoma.

Option by option

  • A. Neurogenic tumour

    Neurogenic tumours are in the posterior mediastinum.

  • B. Bronchogenic cyst

    A bronchogenic cyst typically lies in the middle mediastinum near the carina.

  • C. Oesophageal duplication cyst

    An oesophageal duplication cyst is in the posterior mediastinum.

  • D. Thymoma (correct)

    Correct. Myasthenia with an anterior mediastinal mass indicates thymoma.

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 D, Thymoma. Thymoma lies in the anterior mediastinum and is associated with myasthenia gravis in a third or so of cases.

Why is "Neurogenic tumour" not the answer?

Neurogenic tumours are in the posterior mediastinum.

Why is "Bronchogenic cyst" not the answer?

A bronchogenic cyst typically lies in the middle mediastinum near the carina.

Why is "Oesophageal duplication cyst" not the answer?

An oesophageal duplication cyst is in the posterior mediastinum.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: anterior mediastinal mass in Radiology. Anterior mediastinal masses are remembered as thymoma, teratoma and germ cell tumours, thyroid enlargement and terrible lymphoma.

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 Chest imaging: anterior mediastinal mass?

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.