Musculoskeletal imaging: renal osteodystrophy: 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 · Musculoskeletal imaging: renal osteodystrophy

Sample item

A 14-year-old with chronic kidney disease has a lateral lumbar spine radiograph showing dense sclerotic bands beneath the vertebral endplates with a less dense central zone. What is this sign?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rugger jersey spine

Rugger jersey spine shows alternating sclerotic and lucent bands from subendplate sclerosis in secondary hyperparathyroidism due to renal osteodystrophy. Osteopetrosis can look similar, but renal disease sets the context.

Option by option

  • A. Ivory vertebra

    An ivory vertebra is uniform density of a single vertebral body.

  • B. Rugger jersey spine (correct)

    Correct. Subendplate sclerosis giving banded vertebrae is rugger jersey spine in renal osteodystrophy.

  • C. Picture frame vertebra

    A picture frame vertebra is cortical thickening around a vertebra in Paget disease.

  • D. Bamboo spine

    Bamboo spine is fusion of the spine by syndesmophytes in ankylosing spondylitis.

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, Rugger jersey spine. Rugger jersey spine shows alternating sclerotic and lucent bands from subendplate sclerosis in secondary hyperparathyroidism due to renal osteodystrophy.

Why is "Ivory vertebra" not the answer?

An ivory vertebra is uniform density of a single vertebral body.

Why is "Picture frame vertebra" not the answer?

A picture frame vertebra is cortical thickening around a vertebra in Paget disease.

Why is "Bamboo spine" not the answer?

Bamboo spine is fusion of the spine by syndesmophytes in ankylosing spondylitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Musculoskeletal imaging: renal osteodystrophy in Radiology. Osteopetrosis can look similar, but renal disease sets the context.

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 Musculoskeletal imaging: renal osteodystrophy?

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.