Obstetric imaging: cervical length: 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 · Obstetric imaging: cervical length

Sample item

At the mid-trimester scan, a woman with a previous second trimester loss has a transvaginal cervical length of 15 mm. What is the significance?

AA short cervix with a high risk of preterm birth, for which progesterone or cerclage is consideredBA sign of fetal anomalyCA normal cervixDA sign of placenta praevia

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A short cervix with a high risk of preterm birth, for which progesterone or cerclage is considered

A cervical length under about 25 mm at 18 to 24 weeks predicts spontaneous preterm birth, and transvaginal ultrasound is the most accurate way to measure it. Interventions include vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage.

Option by option

A. A short cervix with a high risk of preterm birth, for which progesterone or cerclage is considered (correct)
Correct. A short cervix indicates a high risk of preterm birth.
B. A sign of fetal anomaly
A short cervix is not a fetal anomaly marker.
C. A normal cervix
A normal cervix measures above 25 mm.
D. A sign of placenta praevia
Praevia is a placental location problem.

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 A, A short cervix with a high risk of preterm birth, for which progesterone or cerclage is considered. A cervical length under about 25 mm at 18 to 24 weeks predicts spontaneous preterm birth, and transvaginal ultrasound is the most accurate way to measure it.

Why is "A sign of fetal anomaly" not the answer?

A short cervix is not a fetal anomaly marker.

Why is "A normal cervix" not the answer?

A normal cervix measures above 25 mm.

Why is "A sign of placenta praevia" not the answer?

Praevia is a placental location problem.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Obstetric imaging: cervical length in Radiology. Interventions include vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage.

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 Obstetric imaging: cervical length?

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.