Chest imaging: invasive aspergillosis: 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 · Chest imaging: invasive aspergillosis

Sample item

A neutropenic patient with leukaemia on chemotherapy has fever and CT shows multiple nodules, each surrounded by a rim of ground glass attenuation. What is the sign and likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. CT halo sign, angio-invasive aspergillosis

The CT halo sign (haemorrhage around a nodule) is an early sign of angioinvasive fungal infection in neutropenic patients. The air-crescent sign follows as neutrophils recover. The reverse halo sign is associated with organising pneumonia and mucormycosis.

Option by option

  • A. CT halo sign, angio-invasive aspergillosis (correct)

    Correct. Nodules with ground glass halos in neutropenia suggest invasive aspergillosis.

  • B. Crazy paving, alveolar proteinosis

    Crazy paving has ground glass with septal thickening.

  • C. Reverse halo sign, tuberculosis

    The reverse halo has a central ground glass area with a ring of consolidation.

  • D. Tree-in-bud, bronchiolitis

    Tree-in-bud shows centrilobular nodules with branching lines.

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.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, CT halo sign, angio-invasive aspergillosis. The CT halo sign (haemorrhage around a nodule) is an early sign of angioinvasive fungal infection in neutropenic patients.

Why is "Crazy paving, alveolar proteinosis" not the answer?

Crazy paving has ground glass with septal thickening.

Why is "Reverse halo sign, tuberculosis" not the answer?

The reverse halo has a central ground glass area with a ring of consolidation.

Why is "Tree-in-bud, bronchiolitis" not the answer?

Tree-in-bud shows centrilobular nodules with branching lines.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: invasive aspergillosis in Radiology. The air-crescent sign follows as neutrophils recover. The reverse halo sign is associated with organising pneumonia and mucormycosis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Chest imaging: invasive aspergillosis?

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.