Renal imaging: renal cell carcinoma: 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 · Renal imaging: renal cell carcinoma

Sample item

A 60-year-old man with haematuria has CT showing a 5 cm heterogeneously enhancing renal mass and a filling defect extending into the renal vein and IVC. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus

RCC has a tendency for renal vein and IVC invasion, and enhancing tumour thrombus distinguishes it from bland thrombus. Staging by CT is key for surgical planning with radical nephrectomy. A simple cyst has no enhancement.

Option by option

  • A. Renal abscess

    An abscess is associated with infection and a non-enhancing centre.

  • B. Simple renal cyst

    Simple cysts do not enhance and are not associated with thrombus.

  • C. Angiomyolipoma with fat

    AML contains macroscopic fat and does not usually invade veins.

  • D. Renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus (correct)

    Correct. An enhancing renal mass with venous extension is typical of RCC.

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, Renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus. RCC has a tendency for renal vein and IVC invasion, and enhancing tumour thrombus distinguishes it from bland thrombus.

Why is "Renal abscess" not the answer?

An abscess is associated with infection and a non-enhancing centre.

Why is "Simple renal cyst" not the answer?

Simple cysts do not enhance and are not associated with thrombus.

Why is "Angiomyolipoma with fat" not the answer?

AML contains macroscopic fat and does not usually invade veins.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Renal imaging: renal cell carcinoma in Radiology. Staging by CT is key for surgical planning with radical nephrectomy. A simple cyst has no enhancement.

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 Renal imaging: renal cell carcinoma?

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.