Radiotherapy: oncological emergency: 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: oncological emergency

Sample item

A lung cancer patient presents with facial plethora, neck vein distension and stridor. After securing the airway, which treatment gives rapid relief for the obstruction?

ASurgical resection immediatelyBOral antibioticsCRadiotherapy (with or without stenting) to the mediastinumDDiuretics alone

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Radiotherapy (with or without stenting) to the mediastinum

Superior vena cava obstruction from lung cancer is relieved by radiotherapy, chemotherapy for chemosensitive tumours, or endovascular stenting. Resection is not feasible in the acute setting. Diuretics offer only symptomatic relief.

Option by option

A. Surgical resection immediately
Surgery is not the immediate option.
B. Oral antibiotics
Antibiotics do not treat malignant obstruction.
C. Radiotherapy (with or without stenting) to the mediastinum (correct)
Correct. Radiotherapy or stenting relieves the obstruction.
D. Diuretics alone
Diuretics alone do not treat the cause.

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, Radiotherapy (with or without stenting) to the mediastinum. Superior vena cava obstruction from lung cancer is relieved by radiotherapy, chemotherapy for chemosensitive tumours, or endovascular stenting.

Why is "Surgical resection immediately" not the answer?

Surgery is not the immediate option.

Why is "Oral antibiotics" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not treat malignant obstruction.

Why is "Diuretics alone" not the answer?

Diuretics alone do not treat the cause.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy: oncological emergency in Radiology. Resection is not feasible in the acute setting. Diuretics offer only symptomatic relief.

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: oncological emergency?

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.