Chest and cardiac imaging: lepidic adenocarcinoma: 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 · Chest and cardiac imaging: lepidic adenocarcinoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old non-smoking woman has a 2 cm ground-glass nodule in the right upper lobe that has persisted and slowly enlarged over three years, with a small solid core. Which tumour is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Adenocarcinoma with a lepidic growth pattern

Persistent, slowly growing ground-glass or part-solid nodules typically represent the adenocarcinoma spectrum, from adenocarcinoma in situ to lepidic-predominant tumours. Squamous carcinoma is usually central or cavitating, small cell carcinoma presents with a central mass and nodes, and a hamartoma contains fat or popcorn calcification.

Option by option

  • A. Adenocarcinoma with a lepidic growth pattern (correct)

    Correct. Slow-growing persistent ground-glass lesions are typical of lepidic adenocarcinoma.

  • B. Squamous cell carcinoma

    Squamous carcinoma is usually a central or cavitating solid mass in smokers.

  • C. Small cell carcinoma

    Small cell carcinoma is a fast-growing central tumour with bulky nodes.

  • D. Pulmonary hamartoma

    A hamartoma shows fat or popcorn calcification and does not show ground glass.

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, Adenocarcinoma with a lepidic growth pattern. Persistent, slowly growing ground-glass or part-solid nodules typically represent the adenocarcinoma spectrum, from adenocarcinoma in situ to lepidic-predominant tumours.

Why is "Squamous cell carcinoma" not the answer?

Squamous carcinoma is usually a central or cavitating solid mass in smokers.

Why is "Small cell carcinoma" not the answer?

Small cell carcinoma is a fast-growing central tumour with bulky nodes.

Why is "Pulmonary hamartoma" not the answer?

A hamartoma shows fat or popcorn calcification and does not show ground glass.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: lepidic adenocarcinoma in Radiology. Squamous carcinoma is usually central or cavitating, small cell carcinoma presents with a central mass and nodes, and a hamartoma contains fat or popcorn calcification.

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 Chest and cardiac imaging: lepidic adenocarcinoma?

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.