Interventional radiology: percutaneous vertebroplasty: 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 · Interventional radiology: percutaneous vertebroplasty

Sample item

An elderly woman has persistent severe pain from a recent osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture despite analgesia. Which radiological procedure may relieve it?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Percutaneous vertebroplasty with bone cement under imaging guidance

Polymethylmethacrylate is injected into the collapsed vertebral body through a needle under fluoroscopy or CT, which stabilises the fracture and relieves pain. Cement leakage and neural compression are the main risks.

Option by option

  • A. Bone scan

    A bone scan is diagnostic only.

  • B. Percutaneous vertebroplasty with bone cement under imaging guidance (correct)

    Correct. Cement augmentation stabilises the fracture and reduces pain.

  • C. Epidural abscess drainage

    There is no abscess in this scenario.

  • D. Spinal radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy treats metastatic pain and not osteoporotic fractures.

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 B, Percutaneous vertebroplasty with bone cement under imaging guidance. Polymethylmethacrylate is injected into the collapsed vertebral body through a needle under fluoroscopy or CT, which stabilises the fracture and relieves pain.

Why is "Bone scan" not the answer?

A bone scan is diagnostic only.

Why is "Epidural abscess drainage" not the answer?

There is no abscess in this scenario.

Why is "Spinal radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy treats metastatic pain and not osteoporotic fractures.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Interventional radiology: percutaneous vertebroplasty in Radiology. Cement leakage and neural compression are the main risks.

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 Interventional radiology: percutaneous vertebroplasty?

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.