Cardiac imaging: Stanford classification: 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 · Cardiac imaging: Stanford classification

Sample item

CT angiography in a patient with tearing chest pain shows an intimal flap in the ascending aorta extending into the arch. Which classification and management follow?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Stanford type A, which needs emergency surgical repair

Any dissection involving the ascending aorta is Stanford type A and carries a high risk of rupture, tamponade and aortic regurgitation, so surgery is urgent. Type B dissections that involve only the descending aorta are usually treated medically unless complicated. Blood pressure and heart rate control start immediately.

Option by option

  • A. Stanford type A, which needs emergency surgical repair (correct)

    Correct. Ascending aortic involvement is type A and is surgical.

  • B. Stanford type B, managed with medical therapy alone

    Type B spares the ascending aorta and is mainly medical.

  • C. DeBakey type III, observed with imaging

    DeBakey III confines the dissection to the descending aorta.

  • D. Intramural haematoma, managed by outpatient review

    A flap indicates dissection, which is not managed as an outpatient.

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, Stanford type A, which needs emergency surgical repair. Any dissection involving the ascending aorta is Stanford type A and carries a high risk of rupture, tamponade and aortic regurgitation, so surgery is urgent.

Why is "Stanford type B, managed with medical therapy alone" not the answer?

Type B spares the ascending aorta and is mainly medical.

Why is "DeBakey type III, observed with imaging" not the answer?

DeBakey III confines the dissection to the descending aorta.

Why is "Intramural haematoma, managed by outpatient review" not the answer?

A flap indicates dissection, which is not managed as an outpatient.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiac imaging: Stanford classification in Radiology. Type B dissections that involve only the descending aorta are usually treated medically unless complicated. Blood pressure and heart rate control start immediately.

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 Cardiac imaging: Stanford classification?

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.