Vascular imaging: tardus parvus waveform: 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 · Vascular imaging: tardus parvus waveform

Sample item

A young woman with resistant hypertension has Doppler ultrasound of the kidney showing a slow, delayed systolic upstroke with reduced amplitude in the intrarenal arteries. What does this pattern indicate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A proximal renal artery stenosis

A significant stenosis damps the waveform downstream, giving a tardus parvus pattern, meaning late and small. The finding in the intrarenal arteries suggests a proximal renal artery stenosis, as in fibromuscular dysplasia in young women. CT or MR angiography then defines it.

Option by option

  • A. Renal vein thrombosis

    Vein thrombosis raises the resistance with reversed diastolic flow.

  • B. A proximal renal artery stenosis (correct)

    Correct. Tardus parvus is a damped waveform beyond a stenosis.

  • C. Acute pyelonephritis

    Pyelonephritis alters the kidney size and echo pattern rather than the waveform shape.

  • D. Normal renal perfusion

    A normal waveform has a brisk, high systolic upstroke.

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, A proximal renal artery stenosis. A significant stenosis damps the waveform downstream, giving a tardus parvus pattern, meaning late and small.

Why is "Renal vein thrombosis" not the answer?

Vein thrombosis raises the resistance with reversed diastolic flow.

Why is "Acute pyelonephritis" not the answer?

Pyelonephritis alters the kidney size and echo pattern rather than the waveform shape.

Why is "Normal renal perfusion" not the answer?

A normal waveform has a brisk, high systolic upstroke.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular imaging: tardus parvus waveform in Radiology. The finding in the intrarenal arteries suggests a proximal renal artery stenosis, as in fibromuscular dysplasia in young women. CT or MR angiography then defines it.

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 Vascular imaging: tardus parvus waveform?

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.