GI imaging: CT enterography: 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 · GI imaging: CT enterography

Sample item

A young man with chronic diarrhoea and suspected Crohn disease has a normal colonoscopy and ileal intubation. Which imaging best assesses the small bowel wall and extramural complications?

APlain abdominal radiographBBarium meal aloneCCT or MR enterography with oral neutral contrastDHepatobiliary scintigraphy

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. CT or MR enterography with oral neutral contrast

Enterography uses a large volume of neutral oral contrast to distend the small bowel so that wall thickening, hyperenhancement, strictures, fistulae and abscesses are seen. MR avoids radiation in young patients needing repeat studies.

Option by option

A. Plain abdominal radiograph
A plain film cannot show wall changes.
B. Barium meal alone
A barium meal shows only the lumen and misses extramural disease.
C. CT or MR enterography with oral neutral contrast (correct)
Correct. Enterography is the best cross-sectional test for the small bowel.
D. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy
Hepatobiliary scintigraphy evaluates bile flow.

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 C, CT or MR enterography with oral neutral contrast. Enterography uses a large volume of neutral oral contrast to distend the small bowel so that wall thickening, hyperenhancement, strictures, fistulae and abscesses are seen.

Why is "Plain abdominal radiograph" not the answer?

A plain film cannot show wall changes.

Why is "Barium meal alone" not the answer?

A barium meal shows only the lumen and misses extramural disease.

Why is "Hepatobiliary scintigraphy" not the answer?

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy evaluates bile flow.

What concept does this question test?

It tests GI imaging: CT enterography in Radiology. MR avoids radiation in young patients needing repeat studies.

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 GI imaging: CT enterography?

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.