Chest and cardiac imaging: PET-CT before lung cancer surgery: 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 · Chest and cardiac imaging: PET-CT before lung cancer surgery

Sample item

A 62-year-old smoker has a 3 cm peripheral lung cancer with no obvious nodes on chest CT and is considered for lobectomy. Which investigation best detects occult mediastinal or distant disease before surgery?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. FDG PET-CT

FDG PET-CT is more sensitive than CT size criteria for mediastinal nodal and distant metastases and improves staging before curative surgery. Positive nodes usually need tissue sampling by endobronchial ultrasound. A chest film adds nothing to staging.

Option by option

  • A. Bone scan alone

    A bone scan checks only one site of spread.

  • B. Repeat chest radiograph

    A repeat plain film cannot stage the disease.

  • C. FDG PET-CT (correct)

    Correct. PET-CT improves staging before resection.

  • D. Ventilation-perfusion scan

    A V/Q scan checks lung function or embolism, not staging.

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 C, FDG PET-CT. FDG PET-CT is more sensitive than CT size criteria for mediastinal nodal and distant metastases and improves staging before curative surgery.

Why is "Bone scan alone" not the answer?

A bone scan checks only one site of spread.

Why is "Repeat chest radiograph" not the answer?

A repeat plain film cannot stage the disease.

Why is "Ventilation-perfusion scan" not the answer?

A V/Q scan checks lung function or embolism, not staging.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: PET-CT before lung cancer surgery in Radiology. Positive nodes usually need tissue sampling by endobronchial ultrasound. A chest film adds nothing to staging.

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 Chest and cardiac imaging: PET-CT before lung cancer surgery?

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.