Chest imaging: foreign body in children: 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: foreign body in children

Sample item

A toddler with sudden choking has an inspiratory chest radiograph that looks normal. An expiratory film shows a hyperlucent right lung with the mediastinum shifting to the left. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Right bronchial foreign body causing ball-valve air trapping

A ball-valve obstruction allows air in on inspiration but not out on expiration, so the affected lung stays hyperinflated and the mediastinum moves to the opposite side on expiration. Most inhaled foreign bodies are radiolucent peanuts. Rigid bronchoscopy retrieves them.

Option by option

  • A. Right pneumothorax

    Pneumothorax shows a visible pleural line and collapsed lung.

  • B. Right bronchial foreign body causing ball-valve air trapping (correct)

    Correct. Persistent hyperlucency with contralateral shift on expiration is air trapping.

  • C. Right lung agenesis

    Agenesis would show a small opaque hemithorax.

  • D. Left tension pneumothorax

    A left pneumothorax would shift the mediastinum to the right.

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 B, Right bronchial foreign body causing ball-valve air trapping. A ball-valve obstruction allows air in on inspiration but not out on expiration, so the affected lung stays hyperinflated and the mediastinum moves to the opposite side on expiration.

Why is "Right pneumothorax" not the answer?

Pneumothorax shows a visible pleural line and collapsed lung.

Why is "Right lung agenesis" not the answer?

Agenesis would show a small opaque hemithorax.

Why is "Left tension pneumothorax" not the answer?

A left pneumothorax would shift the mediastinum to the right.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: foreign body in children in Radiology. Most inhaled foreign bodies are radiolucent peanuts. Rigid bronchoscopy retrieves them.

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 Chest imaging: foreign body in children?

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.