Neuroimaging: Creutzfeldt-Jakob 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 · Neuroimaging: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Sample item

A patient with rapidly progressive dementia and myoclonus has DWI showing cortical ribboning with basal ganglia hyperintensity. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Diffusion-weighted MRI shows restricted diffusion in the cortex (cortical ribboning) and basal ganglia in CJD, and is the most sensitive imaging test. EEG shows periodic sharp wave complexes. CSF 14-3-3 protein supports the diagnosis.

Option by option

  • A. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (correct)

    Correct. Cortical ribboning on DWI with rapid dementia suggests CJD.

  • B. Frontotemporal dementia

    FTD shows frontal and anterior temporal atrophy.

  • C. Normal pressure hydrocephalus

    NPH shows ventriculomegaly and the clinical triad.

  • D. Alzheimer disease

    Alzheimer disease shows medial temporal atrophy without restricted diffusion.

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, Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Diffusion-weighted MRI shows restricted diffusion in the cortex (cortical ribboning) and basal ganglia in CJD, and is the most sensitive imaging test.

Why is "Frontotemporal dementia" not the answer?

FTD shows frontal and anterior temporal atrophy.

Why is "Normal pressure hydrocephalus" not the answer?

NPH shows ventriculomegaly and the clinical triad.

Why is "Alzheimer disease" not the answer?

Alzheimer disease shows medial temporal atrophy without restricted diffusion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Radiology. EEG shows periodic sharp wave complexes. CSF 14-3-3 protein supports the diagnosis.

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: Creutzfeldt-Jakob 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.