Radiotherapy: palliative indications: 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: palliative indications

Sample item

A patient with a painful isolated vertebral metastasis from breast cancer and no neurological deficit is best managed for pain relief by which approach?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Single or short-course palliative external beam radiotherapy

Palliative radiotherapy provides pain relief in about 70 to 80 percent of bone metastases, and a single 8 Gy fraction is as effective as longer schedules. Systemic therapy treats the underlying disease. Radioisotopes such as strontium-89 help in widespread painful bone metastases.

Option by option

  • A. Radiofrequency ablation of the thyroid

    Thyroid ablation has no role in a spinal metastasis.

  • B. Whole-body irradiation

    Whole-body irradiation is toxic and not indicated.

  • C. Single or short-course palliative external beam radiotherapy (correct)

    Correct. Palliative external beam is effective for localised bone pain.

  • D. Observation only

    Pain needs active treatment.

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 C, Single or short-course palliative external beam radiotherapy. Palliative radiotherapy provides pain relief in about 70 to 80 percent of bone metastases, and a single 8 Gy fraction is as effective as longer schedules.

Why is "Radiofrequency ablation of the thyroid" not the answer?

Thyroid ablation has no role in a spinal metastasis.

Why is "Whole-body irradiation" not the answer?

Whole-body irradiation is toxic and not indicated.

Why is "Observation only" not the answer?

Pain needs active treatment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy: palliative indications in Radiology. Systemic therapy treats the underlying disease. Radioisotopes such as strontium-89 help in widespread painful bone metastases.

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: palliative indications?

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.