Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: brain death scintigraphy: 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 · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: brain death scintigraphy

Sample item

In a ventilated patient with suspected brain death, apnoea testing cannot be completed. A Tc-99m HMPAO study shows no intracranial uptake, with scalp and facial uptake preserved. What does this indicate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Absent intracerebral perfusion, supporting brain death

A radionuclide perfusion study in brain death shows no uptake in the brain parenchyma while the scalp and face still take up the tracer, which gives a hollow-skull appearance. It is an ancillary test that supports the clinical diagnosis when clinical testing is incomplete. It does not replace clinical certification.

Option by option

  • A. Absent intracerebral perfusion, supporting brain death (correct)

    Correct. Absent cerebral uptake with preserved scalp uptake supports brain death.

  • B. Cerebral hyperperfusion from encephalitis

    Encephalitis typically increases uptake in affected regions.

  • C. Perfusion loss limited to a prior stroke

    A prior stroke gives a regional defect, not global absence.

  • D. Normal perfusion with a technical failure

    Normal perfusion would show brain uptake.

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 A, Absent intracerebral perfusion, supporting brain death. A radionuclide perfusion study in brain death shows no uptake in the brain parenchyma while the scalp and face still take up the tracer, which gives a hollow-skull appearance.

Why is "Cerebral hyperperfusion from encephalitis" not the answer?

Encephalitis typically increases uptake in affected regions.

Why is "Perfusion loss limited to a prior stroke" not the answer?

A prior stroke gives a regional defect, not global absence.

Why is "Normal perfusion with a technical failure" not the answer?

Normal perfusion would show brain uptake.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: brain death scintigraphy in Radiology. It is an ancillary test that supports the clinical diagnosis when clinical testing is incomplete. It does not replace clinical certification.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: brain death scintigraphy?

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.