Nuclear medicine: Warthin tumour on salivary scan: 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 · Nuclear medicine: Warthin tumour on salivary scan

Sample item

A 60-year-old man has a painless parotid swelling. Technetium-99m pertechnetate salivary scintigraphy shows an area of increased tracer uptake that persists after sialogogue stimulation. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Warthin tumour

Warthin tumours contain oncocytes rich in mitochondria and trap pertechnetate, so they appear hot and retain the tracer. Most other parotid tumours, including pleomorphic adenoma, are cold. The pattern is also seen with oncocytoma.

Option by option

  • A. Parotid abscess

    An abscess is not the likely cause of a painless swelling.

  • B. Pleomorphic adenoma

    Pleomorphic adenoma is cold on scintigraphy.

  • C. Warthin tumour (correct)

    Correct. A hot nodule retaining tracer suggests Warthin tumour.

  • D. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

    Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is typically cold.

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, Warthin tumour. Warthin tumours contain oncocytes rich in mitochondria and trap pertechnetate, so they appear hot and retain the tracer.

Why is "Parotid abscess" not the answer?

An abscess is not the likely cause of a painless swelling.

Why is "Pleomorphic adenoma" not the answer?

Pleomorphic adenoma is cold on scintigraphy.

Why is "Mucoepidermoid carcinoma" not the answer?

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is typically cold.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: Warthin tumour on salivary scan in Radiology. Most other parotid tumours, including pleomorphic adenoma, are cold. The pattern is also seen with oncocytoma.

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 Nuclear medicine: Warthin tumour on salivary scan?

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.