Emergency 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 · Emergency imaging

Sample item

What is the preferred initial imaging test for suspected acute intracranial haemorrhage in an unstable patient?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Non-contrast CT head

Non-contrast CT is rapid and sensitive for acute blood, making it the usual first test when intracranial haemorrhage is suspected urgently.

Option by option

  • A. Plain skull radiograph

    Skull radiographs do not exclude intracranial bleeding.

  • B. Contrast-enhanced MRI brain

    MRI may be useful later but is slower and less available acutely.

  • C. Carotid Doppler ultrasound

    Carotid Doppler does not image acute intracranial blood.

  • D. Non-contrast CT head (correct)

    Correct: acute blood is readily detected rapidly on non-contrast CT.

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, Non-contrast CT head. Non-contrast CT is rapid and sensitive for acute blood, making it the usual first test when intracranial haemorrhage is suspected urgently.

Why is "Plain skull radiograph" not the answer?

Skull radiographs do not exclude intracranial bleeding.

Why is "Contrast-enhanced MRI brain" not the answer?

MRI may be useful later but is slower and less available acutely.

Why is "Carotid Doppler ultrasound" not the answer?

Carotid Doppler does not image acute intracranial blood.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergency imaging in Radiology. The correct option holds because: Correct: acute blood is readily detected rapidly on non-contrast CT.

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 Emergency 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.