Chest imaging: 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 · Chest imaging

Sample item

What does an air bronchogram within a pulmonary opacity usually indicate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Air-filled bronchi surrounded by alveolar consolidation

An air bronchogram appears when air remains in bronchi but surrounding alveoli are filled with fluid, cells, or exudate, a common pattern in alveolar consolidation such as pneumonia.

Option by option

  • A. A pleural air collection

    Pleural air produces a pneumothorax pattern rather than air bronchograms.

  • B. Interstitial fluid thickening the interlobular septa

    Septal thickening produces an interstitial pattern rather than air-filled bronchi in alveolar opacity.

  • C. Calcification in a lymph node

    Calcified nodes do not create branching air bronchograms.

  • D. Air-filled bronchi surrounded by alveolar consolidation (correct)

    Correct: visible air-filled bronchi within opaque alveoli form an air bronchogram.

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 D, Air-filled bronchi surrounded by alveolar consolidation. An air bronchogram appears when air remains in bronchi but surrounding alveoli are filled with fluid, cells, or exudate, a common pattern in alveolar consolidation such as pneumonia.

Why is "A pleural air collection" not the answer?

Pleural air produces a pneumothorax pattern rather than air bronchograms.

Why is "Interstitial fluid thickening the interlobular septa" not the answer?

Septal thickening produces an interstitial pattern rather than air-filled bronchi in alveolar opacity.

Why is "Calcification in a lymph node" not the answer?

Calcified nodes do not create branching air bronchograms.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging in Radiology. The correct option holds because: Correct: visible air-filled bronchi within opaque alveoli form an air bronchogram.

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 Chest imaging?

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.