Radiation safety and radiobiology: latent period of acute radiation syndrome: 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 · Radiation safety and radiobiology: latent period of acute radiation syndrome

Sample item

A worker exposed to a high whole-body dose has nausea and vomiting for the first day, then feels well for about two weeks before fever, infection and bleeding appear. What is the symptom-free interval called?

AManifest illness stageBProdromal stageCRecovery stageDLatent period

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Latent period

Acute radiation syndrome has four phases: prodromal, latent, manifest illness and recovery or death. During the latent period the patient seems well while marrow stem cells are depleted, and it is shorter with higher doses.

Option by option

A. Manifest illness stage
The manifest illness stage is when infection and bleeding occur.
B. Prodromal stage
The prodromal stage is the initial nausea and vomiting.
C. Recovery stage
The recovery stage follows the manifest illness in survivors.
D. Latent period (correct)
Correct. The apparently well interval between the prodrome and the manifest illness is the latent period.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is D, Latent period. Acute radiation syndrome has four phases: prodromal, latent, manifest illness and recovery or death.

Why is "Manifest illness stage" not the answer?

The manifest illness stage is when infection and bleeding occur.

Why is "Prodromal stage" not the answer?

The prodromal stage is the initial nausea and vomiting.

Why is "Recovery stage" not the answer?

The recovery stage follows the manifest illness in survivors.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiation safety and radiobiology: latent period of acute radiation syndrome in Radiology. During the latent period the patient seems well while marrow stem cells are depleted, and it is shorter with higher doses.

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 Radiation safety and radiobiology: latent period of acute radiation syndrome?

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.