Neuroimaging: cerebral venous thrombosis: 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: cerebral venous thrombosis

Sample item

A postpartum patient has severe headache and seizures; CT venography shows a nonopacified superior sagittal sinus with a filling defect. What diagnosis is likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a thrombotic occlusion of cerebral venous drainage and may present with headache, seizures, papilledema, or hemorrhagic venous infarcts. CT or MR venography demonstrates the thrombosed sinus.

Option by option

  • A. Subdural hygroma

    Subdural hygroma is a CSF-density extra-axial collection.

  • B. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (correct)

    Correct. Venous sinus filling defect establishes the diagnosis.

  • C. Pituitary microadenoma

    Pituitary microadenoma is not a sinus filling defect.

  • D. Middle cerebral artery infarction

    Arterial MCA infarction follows an arterial territory rather than sinus nonopacification.

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 B, Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a thrombotic occlusion of cerebral venous drainage and may present with headache, seizures, papilledema, or hemorrhagic venous infarcts.

Why is "Subdural hygroma" not the answer?

Subdural hygroma is a CSF-density extra-axial collection.

Why is "Pituitary microadenoma" not the answer?

Pituitary microadenoma is not a sinus filling defect.

Why is "Middle cerebral artery infarction" not the answer?

Arterial MCA infarction follows an arterial territory rather than sinus nonopacification.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: cerebral venous thrombosis in Radiology. CT or MR venography demonstrates the thrombosed sinus.

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 Neuroimaging: cerebral venous thrombosis?

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.