MRI: fat suppression: 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.

Try it

Radiology · MRI: fat suppression

Sample item

A bone marrow oedema pattern in the femoral head is to be shown clearly against the bright marrow fat. Which sequence is the best choice?

AT1 spin echo without fat suppressionBTime-of-flight angiographyCSTIRDGradient echo

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. STIR

Short tau inversion recovery nulls signal from fat, so oedema and fluid stand out as bright. It is widely used in musculoskeletal imaging for marrow oedema, occult fractures and infection. It is not used after gadolinium because enhancement is unreliable.

Option by option

A. T1 spin echo without fat suppression
Unsuppressed T1 shows fat as bright, hiding subtle oedema.
B. Time-of-flight angiography
TOF angiography images flowing blood.
C. STIR (correct)
Correct. STIR suppresses fat and shows oedema.
D. Gradient echo
Gradient echo is not primarily a fat-suppression sequence.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, STIR. Short tau inversion recovery nulls signal from fat, so oedema and fluid stand out as bright.

Why is "T1 spin echo without fat suppression" not the answer?

Unsuppressed T1 shows fat as bright, hiding subtle oedema.

Why is "Time-of-flight angiography" not the answer?

TOF angiography images flowing blood.

Why is "Gradient echo" not the answer?

Gradient echo is not primarily a fat-suppression sequence.

What concept does this question test?

It tests MRI: fat suppression in Radiology. It is widely used in musculoskeletal imaging for marrow oedema, occult fractures and infection. It is not used after gadolinium because enhancement is unreliable.

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 MRI: fat suppression?

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.