Neuroimaging: craniopharyngioma: 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 · Neuroimaging: craniopharyngioma

Sample item

A 9-year-old child with headache and visual field defect has CT showing a suprasellar cystic mass with calcification. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngiomas arise from Rathke pouch remnants and are usually suprasellar, cystic with solid parts, and calcified in up to 90 percent of children. They present with visual loss and endocrine deficiency. The adamantinomatous type has a bimodal age distribution.

Option by option

  • A. Optic glioma

    An optic glioma enlarges the optic nerve without calcification.

  • B. Medulloblastoma

    A medulloblastoma is in the posterior fossa.

  • C. Craniopharyngioma (correct)

    Correct. A calcified suprasellar cystic mass in a child is a craniopharyngioma.

  • D. Pituitary macroadenoma

    A macroadenoma is rarely calcified and uncommon in this age group.

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 C, Craniopharyngioma. Craniopharyngiomas arise from Rathke pouch remnants and are usually suprasellar, cystic with solid parts, and calcified in up to 90 percent of children.

Why is "Optic glioma" not the answer?

An optic glioma enlarges the optic nerve without calcification.

Why is "Medulloblastoma" not the answer?

A medulloblastoma is in the posterior fossa.

Why is "Pituitary macroadenoma" not the answer?

A macroadenoma is rarely calcified and uncommon in this age group.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: craniopharyngioma in Radiology. They present with visual loss and endocrine deficiency. The adamantinomatous type has a bimodal age distribution.

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 Neuroimaging: craniopharyngioma?

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.