Abdominal and GI imaging: Clostridioides difficile colitis: 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 · Abdominal and GI imaging: Clostridioides difficile colitis

Sample item

A patient has severe watery diarrhoea after a course of clindamycin. Contrast CT shows marked circumferential colonic wall thickening with oral contrast trapped between thickened folds. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Clostridioides difficile colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis from C. difficile causes marked wall thickening with contrast trapped between swollen haustral folds, called the accordion sign, and often pancolitis. The antibiotic history and stool toxin confirm it. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease are chronic and ischaemic colitis follows a vascular territory.

Option by option

  • A. Ulcerative colitis

    Ulcerative colitis is chronic and has no antibiotic link.

  • B. Crohn colitis

    Crohn colitis has skip lesions and a chronic course.

  • C. Clostridioides difficile colitis (correct)

    Correct. Antibiotic exposure with accordion-sign pancolitis suggests C. difficile.

  • D. Ischaemic colitis

    Ischaemic colitis follows a vascular territory such as the splenic flexure.

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 C, Clostridioides difficile colitis. Pseudomembranous colitis from C.

Why is "Ulcerative colitis" not the answer?

Ulcerative colitis is chronic and has no antibiotic link.

Why is "Crohn colitis" not the answer?

Crohn colitis has skip lesions and a chronic course.

Why is "Ischaemic colitis" not the answer?

Ischaemic colitis follows a vascular territory such as the splenic flexure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdominal and GI imaging: Clostridioides difficile colitis in Radiology. difficile causes marked wall thickening with contrast trapped between swollen haustral folds, called the accordion sign, and often pancolitis. The antibiotic history and stool toxin confirm it. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease are chronic and ischaemic colitis follows a vascular territory.

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 Abdominal and GI imaging: Clostridioides difficile colitis?

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.