Respiratory medicine: pleural effusion: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Respiratory medicine: pleural effusion

Sample item

A patient with heart failure has reduced breath sounds, stony dullness to percussion, and decreased vocal fremitus at the right lung base. What is the most likely finding?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pleural effusion

Pleural fluid dampens transmitted sound and produces stony dull percussion with reduced breath sounds and fremitus. Heart failure is a common cause of bilateral or right-predominant transudative effusions.

Option by option

  • A. Pleural effusion (correct)

    Correct. The examination pattern is typical of fluid in the pleural space.

  • B. Pneumothorax

    Pneumothorax is hyperresonant and reduces breath sounds.

  • C. Lobar consolidation

    Consolidation usually increases vocal fremitus and bronchial breathing.

  • D. Bronchiectasis

    Bronchiectasis causes chronic productive cough and coarse crackles rather than stony dullness.

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 General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Pleural effusion. Pleural fluid dampens transmitted sound and produces stony dull percussion with reduced breath sounds and fremitus.

Why is "Pneumothorax" not the answer?

Pneumothorax is hyperresonant and reduces breath sounds.

Why is "Lobar consolidation" not the answer?

Consolidation usually increases vocal fremitus and bronchial breathing.

Why is "Bronchiectasis" not the answer?

Bronchiectasis causes chronic productive cough and coarse crackles rather than stony dullness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: pleural effusion in General Medicine. Heart failure is a common cause of bilateral or right-predominant transudative effusions.

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 Respiratory medicine: pleural effusion?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.