Bone tumours: skip metastases in osteosarcoma: practice question

A Orthopaedics 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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Orthopaedics · Bone tumours: skip metastases in osteosarcoma

Sample item

When osteosarcoma of the distal femur is staged, MRI is performed along the entire length of the affected bone. What is this mainly done to look for?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Skip metastases within the same bone

Skip metastases are discontinuous tumour foci within the same bone, or across the joint, and are best found by imaging the whole bone. They worsen prognosis and alter the planned resection. Lung nodules need CT chest and bone scanning detects distant bone lesions.

Option by option

  • A. Skip metastases within the same bone (correct)

    Correct. Imaging the entire bone detects discontinuous tumour foci that change the surgical plan.

  • B. Regional lymph node spread

    Lymph node spread is uncommon in osteosarcoma and is not the aim of whole-bone MRI.

  • C. Pathological fracture lines

    A pathological fracture is evident on plain radiographs and does not require whole-bone MRI.

  • D. Pulmonary metastases

    Lung metastases are sought with chest CT, not MRI of the limb.

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 Orthopaedics questions

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Skip metastases within the same bone. Skip metastases are discontinuous tumour foci within the same bone, or across the joint, and are best found by imaging the whole bone.

Why is "Regional lymph node spread" not the answer?

Lymph node spread is uncommon in osteosarcoma and is not the aim of whole-bone MRI.

Why is "Pathological fracture lines" not the answer?

A pathological fracture is evident on plain radiographs and does not require whole-bone MRI.

Why is "Pulmonary metastases" not the answer?

Lung metastases are sought with chest CT, not MRI of the limb.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone tumours: skip metastases in osteosarcoma in Orthopaedics. They worsen prognosis and alter the planned resection. Lung nodules need CT chest and bone scanning detects distant bone lesions.

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 Bone tumours: skip metastases in osteosarcoma?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics 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.