Cardiac imaging: pericardial effusion: 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 · Cardiac imaging: pericardial effusion

Sample item

A patient with tuberculous pericarditis has a globular, flask-shaped cardiac silhouette with clear lung fields. What is the name given to this radiographic appearance?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Water-bottle heart

A large pericardial effusion gives a globular heart that loses its normal contours, called the water-bottle heart. Echocardiography is the investigation of choice and shows an echo-free space around the heart. A tamponade needs urgent pericardiocentesis.

Option by option

  • A. Water-bottle heart (correct)

    Correct. Global enlargement with a flask shape suggests effusion.

  • B. Egg-on-string

    Egg-on-string indicates transposition of the great arteries.

  • C. Boot-shaped heart

    Boot shape indicates TOF.

  • D. Coeur en sabot

    Coeur en sabot is another name for the boot shape of TOF.

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, Water-bottle heart. A large pericardial effusion gives a globular heart that loses its normal contours, called the water-bottle heart.

Why is "Egg-on-string" not the answer?

Egg-on-string indicates transposition of the great arteries.

Why is "Boot-shaped heart" not the answer?

Boot shape indicates TOF.

Why is "Coeur en sabot" not the answer?

Coeur en sabot is another name for the boot shape of TOF.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiac imaging: pericardial effusion in Radiology. Echocardiography is the investigation of choice and shows an echo-free space around the heart. A tamponade needs urgent pericardiocentesis.

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 Cardiac imaging: pericardial effusion?

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.