Radiation effects: acute radiation syndrome: 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 · Radiation effects: acute radiation syndrome

Sample item

A worker is accidentally exposed to a whole-body dose of about 4 Gy. Which syndrome would dominate in the following weeks?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Haematopoietic syndrome

Doses of roughly 2 to 6 Gy damage the bone marrow, causing pancytopenia with infection and bleeding from 2 to 4 weeks. The GI syndrome predominates at 6 to 10 Gy and the CNS syndrome above about 20 Gy. Lymphocyte count within 48 hours is a useful biodosimeter.

Option by option

  • A. Haematopoietic syndrome (correct)

    Correct. 4 Gy lies in the bone-marrow syndrome range.

  • B. Gastrointestinal syndrome

    The GI syndrome needs higher doses, above about 6 Gy.

  • C. Pulmonary fibrosis

    Pulmonary fibrosis is a late local effect and not the acute whole-body syndrome.

  • D. Cerebrovascular syndrome

    The CNS syndrome needs very high doses.

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 A, Haematopoietic syndrome. Doses of roughly 2 to 6 Gy damage the bone marrow, causing pancytopenia with infection and bleeding from 2 to 4 weeks.

Why is "Gastrointestinal syndrome" not the answer?

The GI syndrome needs higher doses, above about 6 Gy.

Why is "Pulmonary fibrosis" not the answer?

Pulmonary fibrosis is a late local effect and not the acute whole-body syndrome.

Why is "Cerebrovascular syndrome" not the answer?

The CNS syndrome needs very high doses.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiation effects: acute radiation syndrome in Radiology. The GI syndrome predominates at 6 to 10 Gy and the CNS syndrome above about 20 Gy. Lymphocyte count within 48 hours is a useful biodosimeter.

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 Radiation effects: acute radiation syndrome?

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.