Nuclear medicine: 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

Sample item

What isotope is widely used for many diagnostic nuclear scans?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Technetium-99m

Technetium-99m has favorable imaging properties and a short half-life, so it is widely used with different tracers in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

Option by option

  • A. Cobalt-60

    Cobalt-60 is associated with radiotherapy sources.

  • B. Technetium-99m (correct)

    Correct: technetium-99m is a common diagnostic nuclear isotope.

  • C. Iodine-131 only

    Iodine-131 is primarily therapeutic or specialized, not universal.

  • D. Radium-226

    Radium-226 is not routine contemporary diagnostic imaging tracer.

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.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is B, Technetium-99m. Technetium-99m has favorable imaging properties and a short half-life, so it is widely used with different tracers in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

Why is "Cobalt-60" not the answer?

Cobalt-60 is associated with radiotherapy sources.

Why is "Iodine-131 only" not the answer?

Iodine-131 is primarily therapeutic or specialized, not universal.

Why is "Radium-226" not the answer?

Radium-226 is not routine contemporary diagnostic imaging tracer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine in Radiology. The correct option holds because: Correct: technetium-99m is a common diagnostic nuclear isotope.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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?

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.