Chest and cardiac imaging: transient tachypnoea of the newborn: 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: transient tachypnoea of the newborn

Sample item

A term neonate delivered by elective caesarean is tachypnoeic soon after birth. The chest radiograph shows perihilar streaky opacities, fluid in the fissures and mild hyperinflation, and the infant improves over 48 hours. Which diagnosis fits?

AMeconium aspiration syndromeBTransient tachypnoea of the newbornCHyaline membrane diseaseDCongenital pneumonia

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Transient tachypnoea of the newborn

Delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid, common after caesarean without labour, causes transient tachypnoea. The film shows retained fluid in fissures and interstitium and clears within a few days.

Option by option

A. Meconium aspiration syndrome
Meconium aspiration gives coarse patchy opacities with hyperinflation in post-term infants with stained liquor.
B. Transient tachypnoea of the newborn (correct)
Correct. Term caesarean birth, fluid in fissures and rapid resolution is the classic course.
C. Hyaline membrane disease
Hyaline membrane disease affects preterm infants and shows low lung volumes with ground-glass opacity and air bronchograms.
D. Congenital pneumonia
Congenital pneumonia usually shows asymmetric consolidation with systemic illness, not rapid spontaneous clearing.

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 B, Transient tachypnoea of the newborn. Delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid, common after caesarean without labour, causes transient tachypnoea.

Why is "Meconium aspiration syndrome" not the answer?

Meconium aspiration gives coarse patchy opacities with hyperinflation in post-term infants with stained liquor.

Why is "Hyaline membrane disease" not the answer?

Hyaline membrane disease affects preterm infants and shows low lung volumes with ground-glass opacity and air bronchograms.

Why is "Congenital pneumonia" not the answer?

Congenital pneumonia usually shows asymmetric consolidation with systemic illness, not rapid spontaneous clearing.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: transient tachypnoea of the newborn in Radiology. The film shows retained fluid in fissures and interstitium and clears within a few days.

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 Chest and cardiac imaging: transient tachypnoea of the newborn?

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.