Neuroimaging: venous sinus thrombosis: 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.

Try it

Radiology · Neuroimaging: venous sinus thrombosis

Sample item

A postpartum woman with headache and seizures has contrast CT showing a triangular filling defect with enhancing walls in the posterior superior sagittal sinus. What is this sign?

ADense basilar artery signBEmpty delta sign of cerebral venous thrombosisCHyperdense MCA signDIvy sign

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Empty delta sign of cerebral venous thrombosis

The empty delta sign is a non-enhancing thrombus surrounded by enhanced collateral walls on contrast CT. A hyperdense cord sign may be seen on plain CT. MR venography confirms the diagnosis, and anticoagulation is the treatment even with haemorrhagic infarction.

Option by option

A. Dense basilar artery sign
The dense basilar sign is arterial thrombosis in the posterior circulation.
B. Empty delta sign of cerebral venous thrombosis (correct)
Correct. The empty delta sign indicates dural sinus thrombosis.
C. Hyperdense MCA sign
A hyperdense MCA sign indicates arterial thrombus.
D. Ivy sign
The ivy sign relates to moyamoya disease with leptomeningeal enhancement.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is B, Empty delta sign of cerebral venous thrombosis. The empty delta sign is a non-enhancing thrombus surrounded by enhanced collateral walls on contrast CT.

Why is "Dense basilar artery sign" not the answer?

The dense basilar sign is arterial thrombosis in the posterior circulation.

Why is "Hyperdense MCA sign" not the answer?

A hyperdense MCA sign indicates arterial thrombus.

Why is "Ivy sign" not the answer?

The ivy sign relates to moyamoya disease with leptomeningeal enhancement.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: venous sinus thrombosis in Radiology. A hyperdense cord sign may be seen on plain CT. MR venography confirms the diagnosis, and anticoagulation is the treatment even with haemorrhagic infarction.

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 Neuroimaging: venous sinus thrombosis?

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.