Chest and cardiac imaging: pressure half-time in mitral stenosis: 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: pressure half-time in mitral stenosis

Sample item

Echocardiography is used to estimate valve area in a young woman with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Which Doppler-derived measurement is used?

AE to e prime ratioBPressure half-time of transmitral flowCIsovolumic relaxation timeDTricuspid annular plane systolic excursion

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pressure half-time of transmitral flow

The time taken for the transmitral pressure gradient to fall by half lengthens with stenosis, and the mitral valve area is estimated as 220 divided by the pressure half-time. The other measures assess diastolic function or right ventricular systolic function.

Option by option

A. E to e prime ratio
The E to e prime ratio estimates left ventricular filling pressure.
B. Pressure half-time of transmitral flow (correct)
Correct. Pressure half-time is used to estimate mitral valve area.
C. Isovolumic relaxation time
Isovolumic relaxation time assesses diastolic relaxation and not valve area.
D. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion
TAPSE assesses right ventricular longitudinal function.

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, Pressure half-time of transmitral flow. The time taken for the transmitral pressure gradient to fall by half lengthens with stenosis, and the mitral valve area is estimated as 220 divided by the pressure half-time.

Why is "E to e prime ratio" not the answer?

The E to e prime ratio estimates left ventricular filling pressure.

Why is "Isovolumic relaxation time" not the answer?

Isovolumic relaxation time assesses diastolic relaxation and not valve area.

Why is "Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion" not the answer?

TAPSE assesses right ventricular longitudinal function.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest and cardiac imaging: pressure half-time in mitral stenosis in Radiology. The other measures assess diastolic function or right ventricular systolic function.

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 Chest and cardiac imaging: pressure half-time in mitral stenosis?

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.