Abdominal 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 · Abdominal imaging

Sample item

A man with severe epigastric pain radiating to the back and serum lipase of 1200 U/L is admitted. Contrast-enhanced CT is considered. When is it most useful for assessing pancreatic necrosis and complications?

AIt has no role at any stageBWithin the first 6 hours in every patientC72 hours or more after onset, if the patient is not improvingDOnly after the pain has settled completely

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. 72 hours or more after onset, if the patient is not improving

Early CT can underestimate necrosis because it takes time to demarcate. Contrast-enhanced CT is best delayed to at least 72 hours after onset, and is reserved for diagnostic uncertainty or failure to improve. Ultrasound is used first to look for gallstones.

Option by option

A. It has no role at any stage
CT is the standard modality for grading severity and complications such as necrosis and collections.
B. Within the first 6 hours in every patient
Very early CT underestimates necrosis and is not routinely needed.
C. 72 hours or more after onset, if the patient is not improving (correct)
Correct. Necrosis is reliably shown at 72 hours or later.
D. Only after the pain has settled completely
Imaging is done for clinical indications, not delayed until the pain resolves.

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 C, 72 hours or more after onset, if the patient is not improving. Early CT can underestimate necrosis because it takes time to demarcate.

Why is "It has no role at any stage" not the answer?

CT is the standard modality for grading severity and complications such as necrosis and collections.

Why is "Within the first 6 hours in every patient" not the answer?

Very early CT underestimates necrosis and is not routinely needed.

Why is "Only after the pain has settled completely" not the answer?

Imaging is done for clinical indications, not delayed until the pain resolves.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdominal imaging in Radiology. Contrast-enhanced CT is best delayed to at least 72 hours after onset, and is reserved for diagnostic uncertainty or failure to improve. Ultrasound is used first to look for gallstones.

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 Abdominal 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.