Chest and cardiac imaging: Kartagener 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 · Chest and cardiac imaging: Kartagener syndrome

Sample item

A young man with chronic sinusitis, recurrent chest infections and infertility has dextrocardia on chest radiograph and bronchiectasis on CT. Which underlying defect explains this picture?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Defective dynein arms of cilia

Absent or defective dynein arms impair ciliary beating, so mucus clears poorly, sperm are immotile and embryonic left-right rotation is random. The triad of situs inversus, sinusitis and bronchiectasis defines Kartagener syndrome.

Option by option

  • A. Hypogammaglobulinaemia from B cell failure

    Antibody deficiency causes recurrent sinopulmonary infection but does not alter the heart's position.

  • B. Defective dynein arms of cilia (correct)

    Correct. Ciliary immotility explains infections, infertility and the situs abnormality together.

  • C. Deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin

    This causes basal panacinar emphysema and liver disease, not dextrocardia.

  • D. Mutation of the CFTR chloride channel

    Cystic fibrosis causes upper lobe bronchiectasis and infertility but not situs inversus.

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, Defective dynein arms of cilia. Absent or defective dynein arms impair ciliary beating, so mucus clears poorly, sperm are immotile and embryonic left-right rotation is random.

Why is "Hypogammaglobulinaemia from B cell failure" not the answer?

Antibody deficiency causes recurrent sinopulmonary infection but does not alter the heart's position.

Why is "Deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin" not the answer?

This causes basal panacinar emphysema and liver disease, not dextrocardia.

Why is "Mutation of the CFTR chloride channel" not the answer?

Cystic fibrosis causes upper lobe bronchiectasis and infertility but not situs inversus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: Kartagener syndrome in Radiology. The triad of situs inversus, sinusitis and bronchiectasis defines Kartagener syndrome.

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: Kartagener 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.