Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: gallium-67 panda sign: 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.

Try it

Radiology · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: gallium-67 panda sign

Sample item

A gallium-67 scan of a patient with granulomatous disease shows symmetrical uptake in the lacrimal and parotid glands and in the right paratracheal and bilateral hilar nodes. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Sarcoidosis showing the panda and lambda patterns

Gallium-67 binds transferrin and accumulates in inflammatory tissue. Symmetrical lacrimal and parotid uptake gives the panda sign, and nodal uptake gives the lambda sign, a combination typical of sarcoidosis. Lymphoma also takes up gallium but does not give this salivary pattern.

Option by option

  • A. Tuberculosis only

    Tuberculosis does not produce this combination.

  • B. Normal physiological distribution

    Salivary uptake is mild physiologically and not this symmetric nodal pattern.

  • C. Lymphoma only

    Lymphoma lacks the lacrimal and parotid pattern.

  • D. Sarcoidosis showing the panda and lambda patterns (correct)

    Correct. Panda plus lambda patterns are classic for sarcoidosis.

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.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is D, Sarcoidosis showing the panda and lambda patterns. Gallium-67 binds transferrin and accumulates in inflammatory tissue.

Why is "Tuberculosis only" not the answer?

Tuberculosis does not produce this combination.

Why is "Normal physiological distribution" not the answer?

Salivary uptake is mild physiologically and not this symmetric nodal pattern.

Why is "Lymphoma only" not the answer?

Lymphoma lacks the lacrimal and parotid pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: gallium-67 panda sign in Radiology. Symmetrical lacrimal and parotid uptake gives the panda sign, and nodal uptake gives the lambda sign, a combination typical of sarcoidosis. Lymphoma also takes up gallium but does not give this salivary pattern.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: gallium-67 panda sign?

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.