Adrenal imaging: myelolipoma: 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 · Adrenal imaging: myelolipoma

Sample item

An incidental 6 cm right adrenal mass on CT contains areas of negative attenuation, about minus 80 Hounsfield units, mixed with soft tissue. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Adrenal myelolipoma

Macroscopic fat is the hallmark of adrenal myelolipoma, a benign tumour of fat and haematopoietic tissue. Carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and metastasis do not contain macroscopic fat. No further treatment is needed unless it is symptomatic or very large.

Option by option

  • A. Pheochromocytoma

    Pheochromocytomas enhance avidly and lack macroscopic fat.

  • B. Adrenocortical carcinoma

    Carcinoma is solid with necrosis and no macroscopic fat.

  • C. Adrenal myelolipoma (correct)

    Correct. Macroscopic fat indicates a myelolipoma.

  • D. Adrenal metastasis

    Metastases are solid soft-tissue masses.

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 C, Adrenal myelolipoma. Macroscopic fat is the hallmark of adrenal myelolipoma, a benign tumour of fat and haematopoietic tissue.

Why is "Pheochromocytoma" not the answer?

Pheochromocytomas enhance avidly and lack macroscopic fat.

Why is "Adrenocortical carcinoma" not the answer?

Carcinoma is solid with necrosis and no macroscopic fat.

Why is "Adrenal metastasis" not the answer?

Metastases are solid soft-tissue masses.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Adrenal imaging: myelolipoma in Radiology. Carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and metastasis do not contain macroscopic fat. No further treatment is needed unless it is symptomatic or very large.

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 Adrenal imaging: myelolipoma?

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.