Neuroimaging: Marchiafava-Bignami disease: 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 · Neuroimaging: Marchiafava-Bignami disease

Sample item

A chronic alcoholic has dementia, dysarthria and seizures. MRI shows T2 hyperintense lesions in the splenium and body of the corpus callosum. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Marchiafava-Bignami disease

Marchiafava-Bignami disease causes demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum in chronic alcoholics, typically in the splenium and body, often with a sandwich pattern on sagittal images. Wernicke encephalopathy affects the mamillary bodies and medial thalami. Osmotic demyelination affects the pons, and multiple sclerosis gives perpendicular ovoid periventricular lesions.

Option by option

  • A. Osmotic demyelination syndrome

    Osmotic demyelination involves the central pons after rapid sodium correction.

  • B. Marchiafava-Bignami disease (correct)

    Correct. Callosal lesions in a chronic alcoholic indicate Marchiafava-Bignami disease.

  • C. Multiple sclerosis

    Multiple sclerosis lesions are ovoid and perpendicular to the ventricles.

  • D. Wernicke encephalopathy

    Wernicke encephalopathy involves the mamillary bodies and medial thalami.

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 B, Marchiafava-Bignami disease. Marchiafava-Bignami disease causes demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum in chronic alcoholics, typically in the splenium and body, often with a sandwich pattern on sagittal images.

Why is "Osmotic demyelination syndrome" not the answer?

Osmotic demyelination involves the central pons after rapid sodium correction.

Why is "Multiple sclerosis" not the answer?

Multiple sclerosis lesions are ovoid and perpendicular to the ventricles.

Why is "Wernicke encephalopathy" not the answer?

Wernicke encephalopathy involves the mamillary bodies and medial thalami.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: Marchiafava-Bignami disease in Radiology. Wernicke encephalopathy affects the mamillary bodies and medial thalami. Osmotic demyelination affects the pons, and multiple sclerosis gives perpendicular ovoid periventricular lesions.

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: Marchiafava-Bignami disease?

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.