Neuroimaging: chordoma: 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 · Neuroimaging: chordoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old man has an expansile midline mass in the clivus with bone destruction, intratumoural calcification and very bright signal on T2 MRI. What is the likely tumour?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Chordoma

Chordomas arise from notochordal remnants along the clivus or sacrum, destroy bone and show markedly high T2 signal with a honeycomb enhancement pattern. They are locally aggressive and recur.

Option by option

  • A. Craniopharyngioma

    A craniopharyngioma is suprasellar with cysts and calcification.

  • B. Pituitary adenoma

    A pituitary adenoma sits in the sella and does not destroy the clivus in this way.

  • C. Meningioma

    A meningioma shows hyperostosis and a dural tail.

  • D. Chordoma (correct)

    Correct. A destructive midline clival mass with bright T2 signal is a chordoma.

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, Chordoma. Chordomas arise from notochordal remnants along the clivus or sacrum, destroy bone and show markedly high T2 signal with a honeycomb enhancement pattern.

Why is "Craniopharyngioma" not the answer?

A craniopharyngioma is suprasellar with cysts and calcification.

Why is "Pituitary adenoma" not the answer?

A pituitary adenoma sits in the sella and does not destroy the clivus in this way.

Why is "Meningioma" not the answer?

A meningioma shows hyperostosis and a dural tail.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: chordoma in Radiology. They are locally aggressive and recur.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Neuroimaging: chordoma?

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.