Cardiac imaging: bicuspid aortic valve and the aorta: 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: bicuspid aortic valve and the aorta

Sample item

A 30-year-old man has a bicuspid aortic valve on echocardiography. Which additional imaging issue should be addressed?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Surveillance of the ascending aorta for dilatation and screening for coarctation

Bicuspid aortic valve is associated with aortopathy, causing ascending aortic dilatation and risk of dissection, and with coarctation. Periodic echocardiography, CT or MRI follows the aortic diameter. Imaging also checks for coarctation.

Option by option

  • A. Screening the pulmonary arteries for stenosis

    Pulmonary artery stenosis is not the main association.

  • B. Screening for atrial septal defect only

    ASD is not the key association.

  • C. No further imaging is ever needed

    Aortopathy requires lifelong surveillance.

  • D. Surveillance of the ascending aorta for dilatation and screening for coarctation (correct)

    Correct. The ascending aorta and coarctation need evaluation.

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 D, Surveillance of the ascending aorta for dilatation and screening for coarctation. Bicuspid aortic valve is associated with aortopathy, causing ascending aortic dilatation and risk of dissection, and with coarctation.

Why is "Screening the pulmonary arteries for stenosis" not the answer?

Pulmonary artery stenosis is not the main association.

Why is "Screening for atrial septal defect only" not the answer?

ASD is not the key association.

Why is "No further imaging is ever needed" not the answer?

Aortopathy requires lifelong surveillance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiac imaging: bicuspid aortic valve and the aorta in Radiology. Periodic echocardiography, CT or MRI follows the aortic diameter. Imaging also checks for coarctation.

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: bicuspid aortic valve and the aorta?

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.