Radiotherapy: stereotactic radiosurgery: 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: stereotactic radiosurgery

Sample item

The Gamma Knife is used mainly for which of the following indications?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Stereotactic radiosurgery of small intracranial targets such as arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas and metastases

The Gamma Knife focuses many beams from Co-60 sources onto a small intracranial target in a single high dose fraction with submillimetre accuracy. It is used for small AVMs, vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, pituitary adenomas, trigeminal neuralgia and metastases. Whole-body irradiation uses linacs.

Option by option

  • A. Superficial skin cancer

    Superficial skin cancers are treated with orthovoltage or electrons.

  • B. Whole-body irradiation before bone marrow transplant

    Whole-body irradiation is not performed with a Gamma Knife.

  • C. Treatment of carcinoma stomach

    Stomach cancer is not treated by Gamma Knife.

  • D. Stereotactic radiosurgery of small intracranial targets such as arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas and metastases (correct)

    Correct. Focused cobalt beams treat small intracranial lesions.

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 D, Stereotactic radiosurgery of small intracranial targets such as arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas and metastases. The Gamma Knife focuses many beams from Co-60 sources onto a small intracranial target in a single high dose fraction with submillimetre accuracy.

Why is "Superficial skin cancer" not the answer?

Superficial skin cancers are treated with orthovoltage or electrons.

Why is "Whole-body irradiation before bone marrow transplant" not the answer?

Whole-body irradiation is not performed with a Gamma Knife.

Why is "Treatment of carcinoma stomach" not the answer?

Stomach cancer is not treated by Gamma Knife.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy: stereotactic radiosurgery in Radiology. It is used for small AVMs, vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, pituitary adenomas, trigeminal neuralgia and metastases. Whole-body irradiation uses linacs.

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: stereotactic radiosurgery?

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.