Head and neck imaging: carotid body tumour: 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 · Head and neck imaging: carotid body tumour

Sample item

A 45-year-old has a painless, pulsatile neck mass at the carotid bifurcation. CT angiography shows an avidly enhancing mass splaying the internal and external carotid arteries. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Carotid body paraganglioma

Carotid body tumours are vascular paragangliomas that widen the carotid bifurcation, called the lyre sign. They enhance intensely and need specialist surgical planning, and biopsy is avoided. A branchial cyst is cystic and does not enhance.

Option by option

  • A. Reactive lymph node

    A lymph node does not splay the bifurcation in this way.

  • B. Branchial cleft cyst

    A branchial cyst is non-enhancing and fluid-filled.

  • C. Carotid body paraganglioma (correct)

    Correct. A splaying, avidly enhancing mass at the bifurcation is a carotid body tumour.

  • D. Thyroid nodule

    A thyroid nodule arises in the gland and is not at the bifurcation.

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, Carotid body paraganglioma. Carotid body tumours are vascular paragangliomas that widen the carotid bifurcation, called the lyre sign.

Why is "Reactive lymph node" not the answer?

A lymph node does not splay the bifurcation in this way.

Why is "Branchial cleft cyst" not the answer?

A branchial cyst is non-enhancing and fluid-filled.

Why is "Thyroid nodule" not the answer?

A thyroid nodule arises in the gland and is not at the bifurcation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck imaging: carotid body tumour in Radiology. They enhance intensely and need specialist surgical planning, and biopsy is avoided. A branchial cyst is cystic and does not enhance.

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 Head and neck imaging: carotid body tumour?

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.