Neuroimaging: subarachnoid hemorrhage: 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 · Neuroimaging: subarachnoid hemorrhage

Sample item

A patient has thunderclap headache and noncontrast CT is negative six hours after onset, but clinical suspicion for subarachnoid hemorrhage remains high. What is the next diagnostic principle?

AUse an appropriate further hemorrhage workup such as CT angiography or lumbar puncture according to protocolBPerform a plain skull radiographCRequest a DEXA scanDDischarge because CT excludes all hemorrhage

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Use an appropriate further hemorrhage workup such as CT angiography or lumbar puncture according to protocol

A negative CT does not always end evaluation when suspicion for subarachnoid hemorrhage remains high; the next test depends on timing, local pathway, and patient factors. CT angiography and lumbar puncture are used in selected diagnostic algorithms.

Option by option

A. Use an appropriate further hemorrhage workup such as CT angiography or lumbar puncture according to protocol (correct)
Correct. Persistent high suspicion requires protocol-based further evaluation.
B. Perform a plain skull radiograph
Skull radiography does not detect subarachnoid blood.
C. Request a DEXA scan
DEXA assesses bone density.
D. Discharge because CT excludes all hemorrhage
No single test excludes every case in every timing context.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Use an appropriate further hemorrhage workup such as CT angiography or lumbar puncture according to protocol. A negative CT does not always end evaluation when suspicion for subarachnoid hemorrhage remains high; the next test depends on timing, local pathway, and patient factors.

Why is "Perform a plain skull radiograph" not the answer?

Skull radiography does not detect subarachnoid blood.

Why is "Request a DEXA scan" not the answer?

DEXA assesses bone density.

Why is "Discharge because CT excludes all hemorrhage" not the answer?

No single test excludes every case in every timing context.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: subarachnoid hemorrhage in Radiology. CT angiography and lumbar puncture are used in selected diagnostic algorithms.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Neuroimaging: subarachnoid hemorrhage?

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.