Substance use: Marchiafava-Bignami disease: practice question

A Psychiatry 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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Psychiatry · Substance use: Marchiafava-Bignami disease

Sample item

A 52-year-old man who has drunk country liquor heavily for decades develops progressive dementia, dysarthria, gait disturbance and a seizure. Which MRI finding would be expected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Signal change and necrosis of the corpus callosum

Marchiafava-Bignami disease is demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum seen in chronic alcoholism, causing dementia, dysarthria and interhemispheric disconnection. Mamillary body changes belong to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and pontine change to osmotic demyelination.

Option by option

  • A. Signal change and necrosis of the corpus callosum (correct)

    Correct. Callosal demyelination is the hallmark of Marchiafava-Bignami disease.

  • B. Atrophy of the mamillary bodies

    Mamillary body atrophy is a feature of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

  • C. Hyperintensity in the central pons

    Central pontine hyperintensity occurs with rapid correction of hyponatraemia.

  • D. Hippocampal sclerosis

    Hippocampal sclerosis is the lesion of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

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 Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is A, Signal change and necrosis of the corpus callosum. Marchiafava-Bignami disease is demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum seen in chronic alcoholism, causing dementia, dysarthria and interhemispheric disconnection.

Why is "Atrophy of the mamillary bodies" not the answer?

Mamillary body atrophy is a feature of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Why is "Hyperintensity in the central pons" not the answer?

Central pontine hyperintensity occurs with rapid correction of hyponatraemia.

Why is "Hippocampal sclerosis" not the answer?

Hippocampal sclerosis is the lesion of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: Marchiafava-Bignami disease in Psychiatry. Mamillary body changes belong to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and pontine change to osmotic demyelination.

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 Substance use: Marchiafava-Bignami disease?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry 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.