Chest imaging: Swyer-James syndrome: 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: Swyer-James syndrome

Sample item

A young adult with a childhood history of severe viral bronchiolitis has a chest radiograph showing a unilateral small hyperlucent lung with diminished vascular markings, and an expiratory film showing air trapping. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Swyer-James (MacLeod) syndrome

Post-infectious obliterative bronchiolitis in childhood produces a unilateral hyperlucent lung of normal or reduced size with small hilar vessels and air trapping. A pneumothorax shows a pleural line without lung markings. A small hilum helps distinguish it from other causes of hyperlucency.

Option by option

  • A. Swyer-James (MacLeod) syndrome (correct)

    Correct. A small hyperlucent lung with air trapping fits Swyer-James.

  • B. Pulmonary embolism with infarct

    Infarct gives opacity rather than lucency.

  • C. Pneumothorax

    Pneumothorax lacks lung markings and the lung edge is seen.

  • D. Scimitar syndrome

    Scimitar syndrome shows a scimitar vein and a hypoplastic lung.

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, Swyer-James (MacLeod) syndrome. Post-infectious obliterative bronchiolitis in childhood produces a unilateral hyperlucent lung of normal or reduced size with small hilar vessels and air trapping.

Why is "Pulmonary embolism with infarct" not the answer?

Infarct gives opacity rather than lucency.

Why is "Pneumothorax" not the answer?

Pneumothorax lacks lung markings and the lung edge is seen.

Why is "Scimitar syndrome" not the answer?

Scimitar syndrome shows a scimitar vein and a hypoplastic lung.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: Swyer-James syndrome in Radiology. A pneumothorax shows a pleural line without lung markings. A small hilum helps distinguish it from other causes of hyperlucency.

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: Swyer-James syndrome?

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.