Chest and cardiac imaging: congenital lobar emphysema: 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 · Chest and cardiac imaging: congenital lobar emphysema

Sample item

A 3-month-old has progressive tachypnoea. The chest radiograph shows an overinflated hyperlucent left upper lobe with attenuated vessels within it, compressing the lower lobe and shifting the mediastinum to the right. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Congenital lobar emphysema

Congenital lobar emphysema is lobar air trapping from bronchial cartilage deficiency, most often in the left upper lobe. Vessels remain visible inside the lucent lobe, which separates it from a pneumothorax.

Option by option

  • A. Tension pneumothorax

    A tension pneumothorax shows no lung markings, and the collapsed lung lies at the hilum.

  • B. Congenital lobar emphysema (correct)

    Correct. A hyperinflated lobe with visible vessels and mass effect on neighbouring lung is the hallmark.

  • C. Intralobar pulmonary sequestration

    A sequestration is a soft tissue density with systemic arterial supply, not a lucent lobe.

  • D. Congenital pulmonary airway malformation

    A CPAM appears as a multicystic or solid lesion rather than a uniformly lucent lobe.

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, Congenital lobar emphysema. Congenital lobar emphysema is lobar air trapping from bronchial cartilage deficiency, most often in the left upper lobe.

Why is "Tension pneumothorax" not the answer?

A tension pneumothorax shows no lung markings, and the collapsed lung lies at the hilum.

Why is "Intralobar pulmonary sequestration" not the answer?

A sequestration is a soft tissue density with systemic arterial supply, not a lucent lobe.

Why is "Congenital pulmonary airway malformation" not the answer?

A CPAM appears as a multicystic or solid lesion rather than a uniformly lucent lobe.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: congenital lobar emphysema in Radiology. Vessels remain visible inside the lucent lobe, which separates it from a pneumothorax.

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 Chest and cardiac imaging: congenital lobar emphysema?

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.