Nuclear medicine: MIBG: 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 · Nuclear medicine: MIBG

Sample item

A 3-year-old has an abdominal mass crossing the midline with calcifications and raised urinary catecholamine metabolites. Which nuclear study best assesses for metastatic disease?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan

MIBG is a norepinephrine analogue taken up by adrenergic tissue, so I-123 MIBG scintigraphy localises neuroblastoma and its metastases, as well as phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Neuroblastoma typically presents with a calcified, midline-crossing abdominal mass, and raised urinary VMA and HVA.

Option by option

  • A. I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan (correct)

    Correct. MIBG accumulates in neuroblastoma and metastases.

  • B. Ventilation-perfusion scan

    A V/Q scan evaluates pulmonary embolism.

  • C. Technetium-99m sestamibi scan

    Sestamibi is used for parathyroid and myocardial perfusion imaging.

  • D. Gallium citrate scan

    Gallium localises inflammation and lymphoma.

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 Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan. MIBG is a norepinephrine analogue taken up by adrenergic tissue, so I-123 MIBG scintigraphy localises neuroblastoma and its metastases, as well as phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

Why is "Ventilation-perfusion scan" not the answer?

A V/Q scan evaluates pulmonary embolism.

Why is "Technetium-99m sestamibi scan" not the answer?

Sestamibi is used for parathyroid and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Why is "Gallium citrate scan" not the answer?

Gallium localises inflammation and lymphoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: MIBG in Radiology. Neuroblastoma typically presents with a calcified, midline-crossing abdominal mass, and raised urinary VMA and HVA.

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 Nuclear medicine: MIBG?

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.