GI imaging: Crohn disease: 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 · GI imaging: Crohn disease

Sample item

A barium follow-through in a young patient with chronic diarrhoea shows a narrowed terminal ileum (string sign), cobblestone mucosa and skip lesions. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Crohn disease

Crohn disease is characterised by skip lesions, a cobblestone pattern of linear ulcers with islands of oedematous mucosa, a string sign of strictures and fistulae. The terminal ileum is classically involved. Ulcerative colitis is continuous and starts in the rectum.

Option by option

  • A. Coeliac disease

    Coeliac disease shows jejunal fold changes and reversal of fold pattern.

  • B. Crohn disease (correct)

    Correct. String sign, cobblestoning and skip lesions point to Crohn disease.

  • C. Giardiasis

    Giardiasis shows nonspecific thickened proximal folds.

  • D. Ulcerative colitis

    Ulcerative colitis shows continuous disease and lead pipe colon.

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 B, Crohn disease. Crohn disease is characterised by skip lesions, a cobblestone pattern of linear ulcers with islands of oedematous mucosa, a string sign of strictures and fistulae.

Why is "Coeliac disease" not the answer?

Coeliac disease shows jejunal fold changes and reversal of fold pattern.

Why is "Giardiasis" not the answer?

Giardiasis shows nonspecific thickened proximal folds.

Why is "Ulcerative colitis" not the answer?

Ulcerative colitis shows continuous disease and lead pipe colon.

What concept does this question test?

It tests GI imaging: Crohn disease in Radiology. The terminal ileum is classically involved. Ulcerative colitis is continuous and starts in the rectum.

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 GI imaging: Crohn disease?

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.