Chest imaging: rounded atelectasis: 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 imaging: rounded atelectasis

Sample item

A retired shipyard worker has a peripheral pleural-based 4 cm round opacity on chest CT. Adjacent pleura is thickened, and bronchovascular bundles curve into the lesion like a comet tail. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rounded atelectasis

Rounded atelectasis is folded collapsed lung next to thickened pleura in patients with asbestos exposure. The comet tail of curving vessels and bronchi, volume loss and pleural contact suggest a benign process, though follow-up is sensible. Carcinoma lacks the vessel swirl.

Option by option

  • A. Peripheral lung carcinoma

    A carcinoma does not show curving bronchovascular bundles.

  • B. Rounded atelectasis (correct)

    Correct. The comet tail with adjacent pleural disease indicates rounded atelectasis.

  • C. Hamartoma

    A hamartoma has fat or popcorn calcification.

  • D. Pulmonary infarct

    An infarct is wedge-shaped with a clinical context of embolism.

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 B, Rounded atelectasis. Rounded atelectasis is folded collapsed lung next to thickened pleura in patients with asbestos exposure.

Why is "Peripheral lung carcinoma" not the answer?

A carcinoma does not show curving bronchovascular bundles.

Why is "Hamartoma" not the answer?

A hamartoma has fat or popcorn calcification.

Why is "Pulmonary infarct" not the answer?

An infarct is wedge-shaped with a clinical context of embolism.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: rounded atelectasis in Radiology. The comet tail of curving vessels and bronchi, volume loss and pleural contact suggest a benign process, though follow-up is sensible. Carcinoma lacks the vessel swirl.

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 Chest imaging: rounded atelectasis?

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.