Neuroimaging: frontotemporal dementia: 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 · Neuroimaging: frontotemporal dementia

Sample item

A 62-year-old man has progressive personality change and disinhibition. MRI shows marked atrophy of the frontal and anterior temporal lobes with relative sparing of the posterior brain. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia shows knife-edge atrophy of the frontal poles and anterior temporal lobes, matching behaviour change or language impairment. Alzheimer disease affects the hippocampi and parietal lobes first.

Option by option

  • A. Alzheimer disease

    Alzheimer disease predominantly shows medial temporal and parietal atrophy with early memory loss.

  • B. Frontotemporal dementia (correct)

    Correct. Behavioural change with frontal and anterior temporal atrophy fits frontotemporal dementia.

  • C. Dementia with Lewy bodies

    Dementia with Lewy bodies shows relatively preserved medial temporal lobes and hallucinations with parkinsonism.

  • D. Normal pressure hydrocephalus

    NPH shows ventriculomegaly out of proportion to sulcal enlargement, with gait disturbance and incontinence.

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, Frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia shows knife-edge atrophy of the frontal poles and anterior temporal lobes, matching behaviour change or language impairment.

Why is "Alzheimer disease" not the answer?

Alzheimer disease predominantly shows medial temporal and parietal atrophy with early memory loss.

Why is "Dementia with Lewy bodies" not the answer?

Dementia with Lewy bodies shows relatively preserved medial temporal lobes and hallucinations with parkinsonism.

Why is "Normal pressure hydrocephalus" not the answer?

NPH shows ventriculomegaly out of proportion to sulcal enlargement, with gait disturbance and incontinence.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: frontotemporal dementia in Radiology. Alzheimer disease affects the hippocampi and parietal lobes first.

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 Neuroimaging: frontotemporal dementia?

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.