Chest and cardiac imaging: bronchial atresia: 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: bronchial atresia

Sample item

A non-asthmatic 22-year-old is asymptomatic. His chest radiograph shows a branching tubular opacity near the left hilum with a hyperlucent, hyperinflated lung segment beyond it. Which diagnosis fits best?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Bronchial atresia with mucus impaction

In bronchial atresia a segmental bronchus ends blindly, mucus fills it to form a hilar tubular mass and collateral air drift hyperinflates the segment beyond. It is usually found incidentally in young adults.

Option by option

  • A. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

    ABPA also gives finger-in-glove opacities but occurs in asthmatics with central bronchiectasis and no distal hyperlucency.

  • B. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

    A pulmonary AVM is a feeding-vessel nodule or tangle that does not cause distal hyperinflation.

  • C. Bronchial atresia with mucus impaction (correct)

    Correct. A mucocele at the hilum with distal air trapping is the characteristic pairing.

  • D. Intralobar pulmonary sequestration

    A sequestration is a solid or cystic basal mass with systemic arterial supply, not a hilar branching opacity.

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 C, Bronchial atresia with mucus impaction. In bronchial atresia a segmental bronchus ends blindly, mucus fills it to form a hilar tubular mass and collateral air drift hyperinflates the segment beyond.

Why is "Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis" not the answer?

ABPA also gives finger-in-glove opacities but occurs in asthmatics with central bronchiectasis and no distal hyperlucency.

Why is "Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation" not the answer?

A pulmonary AVM is a feeding-vessel nodule or tangle that does not cause distal hyperinflation.

Why is "Intralobar pulmonary sequestration" not the answer?

A sequestration is a solid or cystic basal mass with systemic arterial supply, not a hilar branching opacity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: bronchial atresia in Radiology. It is usually found incidentally in young adults.

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: bronchial atresia?

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.