Nuclear medicine: preparation for cardiac sarcoid FDG PET: 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: preparation for cardiac sarcoid FDG PET

Sample item

A patient with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis is scheduled for FDG PET. Which preparation best allows inflammation to be seen?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet followed by prolonged fasting to suppress physiological myocardial glucose uptake

The normal myocardium takes up glucose avidly, which can hide inflammatory foci. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet and fasting shift the myocardium to fatty acid metabolism so that inflamed tissue stands out. Insulin and carbohydrate would drive physiological uptake.

Option by option

  • A. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet followed by prolonged fasting to suppress physiological myocardial glucose uptake (correct)

    Correct. Dietary preparation suppresses normal myocardial uptake.

  • B. Intravenous insulin immediately before injection

    Insulin promotes glucose uptake into normal myocardium.

  • C. A high-carbohydrate meal just before the scan

    Carbohydrate stimulates myocardial glucose uptake and obscures disease.

  • D. No preparation, since the heart does not take up FDG

    The myocardium takes up FDG, so preparation is essential.

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 A, A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet followed by prolonged fasting to suppress physiological myocardial glucose uptake. The normal myocardium takes up glucose avidly, which can hide inflammatory foci.

Why is "Intravenous insulin immediately before injection" not the answer?

Insulin promotes glucose uptake into normal myocardium.

Why is "A high-carbohydrate meal just before the scan" not the answer?

Carbohydrate stimulates myocardial glucose uptake and obscures disease.

Why is "No preparation, since the heart does not take up FDG" not the answer?

The myocardium takes up FDG, so preparation is essential.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: preparation for cardiac sarcoid FDG PET in Radiology. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet and fasting shift the myocardium to fatty acid metabolism so that inflamed tissue stands out. Insulin and carbohydrate would drive physiological uptake.

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: preparation for cardiac sarcoid FDG PET?

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.