Musculoskeletal 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 · Musculoskeletal imaging

Sample item

Which radiographic feature is typical of osteoarthritis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Joint-space narrowing with osteophytes

Osteoarthritis causes cartilage loss, subchondral sclerosis, and osteophyte formation, producing nonuniform joint-space narrowing on radiographs.

Option by option

  • A. Joint-space narrowing with osteophytes (correct)

    Correct: osteophytes and nonuniform narrowing are degenerative features.

  • B. Uniform soft-tissue gas around a joint

    Soft-tissue gas suggests infection or trauma.

  • C. Diffuse metaphyseal lytic lesions

    Metaphyseal lytic lesions have another differential.

  • D. Marginal erosions with periarticular osteopenia

    Marginal erosions favour inflammatory arthropathy.

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 A, Joint-space narrowing with osteophytes. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage loss, subchondral sclerosis, and osteophyte formation, producing nonuniform joint-space narrowing on radiographs.

Why is "Uniform soft-tissue gas around a joint" not the answer?

Soft-tissue gas suggests infection or trauma.

Why is "Diffuse metaphyseal lytic lesions" not the answer?

Metaphyseal lytic lesions have another differential.

Why is "Marginal erosions with periarticular osteopenia" not the answer?

Marginal erosions favour inflammatory arthropathy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Musculoskeletal imaging in Radiology. The correct option holds because: Correct: osteophytes and nonuniform narrowing are degenerative features.

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 Musculoskeletal 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.