Trauma imaging: limits of FAST: 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 · Trauma imaging: limits of FAST

Sample item

A stable patient with blunt trauma has a negative FAST examination but severe flank pain and haematuria. Which statement is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. FAST does not exclude retroperitoneal or solid organ injury without free fluid, so CT is needed

FAST detects free intraperitoneal fluid and pericardial fluid, and it is poor for retroperitoneal injuries such as renal, pancreatic or duodenal trauma, and for solid organ injury without haemoperitoneum. Stable patients with suspicion are imaged by CT.

Option by option

  • A. FAST reliably detects renal and pancreatic injury

    FAST does not reliably show retroperitoneal organs.

  • B. FAST replaces CT in all stable patients

    CT remains the investigation for stable patients with suspected injury.

  • C. A negative FAST excludes all abdominal injury

    FAST can miss many injuries.

  • D. FAST does not exclude retroperitoneal or solid organ injury without free fluid, so CT is needed (correct)

    Correct. A negative FAST does not rule out retroperitoneal injury.

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.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is D, FAST does not exclude retroperitoneal or solid organ injury without free fluid, so CT is needed. FAST detects free intraperitoneal fluid and pericardial fluid, and it is poor for retroperitoneal injuries such as renal, pancreatic or duodenal trauma, and for solid organ injury without haemoperitoneum.

Why is "FAST reliably detects renal and pancreatic injury" not the answer?

FAST does not reliably show retroperitoneal organs.

Why is "FAST replaces CT in all stable patients" not the answer?

CT remains the investigation for stable patients with suspected injury.

Why is "A negative FAST excludes all abdominal injury" not the answer?

FAST can miss many injuries.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma imaging: limits of FAST in Radiology. Stable patients with suspicion are imaged by CT.

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 Trauma imaging: limits of FAST?

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.