Pancreatic imaging: autoimmune pancreatitis: 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 · Pancreatic imaging: autoimmune pancreatitis

Sample item

A 55-year-old man has painless obstructive jaundice. CT shows a diffusely enlarged, sausage-shaped pancreas with a hypoattenuating peripheral halo and loss of lobulation. Serum IgG4 is raised. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Autoimmune (IgG4-related) pancreatitis

Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis gives a diffusely swollen sausage-like pancreas with a capsule-like rim and responds dramatically to steroids. Adenocarcinoma is a focal mass with upstream duct dilatation. Recognition avoids unnecessary resection.

Option by option

  • A. Annular pancreas

    Annular pancreas causes duodenal obstruction in infancy.

  • B. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

    Adenocarcinoma is usually focal, not diffuse.

  • C. Acute necrotising pancreatitis

    Necrotising pancreatitis has acute pain and non-enhancing areas.

  • D. Autoimmune (IgG4-related) pancreatitis (correct)

    Correct. The sausage-shaped gland with a rim and raised IgG4 indicates autoimmune pancreatitis.

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, Autoimmune (IgG4-related) pancreatitis. Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis gives a diffusely swollen sausage-like pancreas with a capsule-like rim and responds dramatically to steroids.

Why is "Annular pancreas" not the answer?

Annular pancreas causes duodenal obstruction in infancy.

Why is "Pancreatic adenocarcinoma" not the answer?

Adenocarcinoma is usually focal, not diffuse.

Why is "Acute necrotising pancreatitis" not the answer?

Necrotising pancreatitis has acute pain and non-enhancing areas.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pancreatic imaging: autoimmune pancreatitis in Radiology. Adenocarcinoma is a focal mass with upstream duct dilatation. Recognition avoids unnecessary resection.

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 Pancreatic imaging: autoimmune pancreatitis?

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.