Neuroimaging: 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.

Try it

Radiology · Neuroimaging

Sample item

A man has a head injury after a fall. A CT shows a crescent-shaped hyperdense collection along the right cerebral convexity crossing suture lines, with a 7 mm midline shift. Which statement is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. It is an acute subdural haematoma from torn bridging veins and is limited by dural reflections but not by sutures

A crescentic extra-axial collection crossing sutures but not the falx or tentorium is a subdural haematoma, caused by rupture of bridging veins. Extradural haematomas are biconvex, limited by sutures and arterial in origin. A subdural with midline shift and mass effect needs urgent neurosurgical review for evacuation.

Option by option

  • A. It is a subarachnoid haemorrhage from aneurysm rupture

    Subarachnoid haemorrhage fills the basal cisterns and sulci rather than forming a convexity crescent.

  • B. It is an acute subdural haematoma from torn bridging veins and is limited by dural reflections but not by sutures (correct)

    Correct. Crescentic shape that crosses sutures denotes subdural haematoma.

  • C. It is an intracerebral contusion limited to the grey-white junction

    Contusions are intra-axial haemorrhages, not crescentic extra-axial collections.

  • D. It is an extradural haematoma from the middle meningeal artery and does not cross sutures

    Extradural haematomas are lens-shaped and do not cross sutures.

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, It is an acute subdural haematoma from torn bridging veins and is limited by dural reflections but not by sutures. A crescentic extra-axial collection crossing sutures but not the falx or tentorium is a subdural haematoma, caused by rupture of bridging veins.

Why is "It is a subarachnoid haemorrhage from aneurysm rupture" not the answer?

Subarachnoid haemorrhage fills the basal cisterns and sulci rather than forming a convexity crescent.

Why is "It is an intracerebral contusion limited to the grey-white junction" not the answer?

Contusions are intra-axial haemorrhages, not crescentic extra-axial collections.

Why is "It is an extradural haematoma from the middle meningeal artery and do…" not the answer?

Extradural haematomas are lens-shaped and do not cross sutures.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging in Radiology. Extradural haematomas are biconvex, limited by sutures and arterial in origin. A subdural with midline shift and mass effect needs urgent neurosurgical review for evacuation.

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?

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.