Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: radiation proctitis: 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 · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: radiation proctitis

Sample item

Eight months after pelvic radiotherapy for cervical cancer, a woman has recurrent rectal bleeding. Sigmoidoscopy shows friable telangiectatic mucosa. Which endoscopic treatment is appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Argon plasma coagulation

Chronic radiation proctitis causes mucosal telangiectasia and bleeding months after treatment. Argon plasma coagulation ablates the bleeding vessels and is the usual endoscopic therapy.

Option by option

  • A. Infliximab infusion

    Infliximab treats inflammatory bowel disease and is not used for radiation telangiectasia.

  • B. Argon plasma coagulation (correct)

    Correct. Argon plasma coagulation ablates telangiectatic bleeding mucosa in chronic radiation proctitis.

  • C. Repeat pelvic radiotherapy

    Further irradiation would worsen the injury.

  • D. Total colectomy

    Total colectomy is excessive for a localised rectal mucosal problem.

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, Argon plasma coagulation. Chronic radiation proctitis causes mucosal telangiectasia and bleeding months after treatment.

Why is "Infliximab infusion" not the answer?

Infliximab treats inflammatory bowel disease and is not used for radiation telangiectasia.

Why is "Repeat pelvic radiotherapy" not the answer?

Further irradiation would worsen the injury.

Why is "Total colectomy" not the answer?

Total colectomy is excessive for a localised rectal mucosal problem.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: radiation proctitis in Radiology. Argon plasma coagulation ablates the bleeding vessels and is the usual endoscopic therapy.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: radiation proctitis?

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.