Abdominal and GI imaging: accessory spleen: 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 · Abdominal and GI imaging: accessory spleen

Sample item

A patient with relapse of immune thrombocytopenia after splenectomy has a 1 cm round nodule near the splenic bed on CT, enhancing identically to the removed organ in every phase. What is the most likely nodule?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Accessory spleen

An accessory spleen is a congenital splenic nodule that follows spleen attenuation in all phases and can hypertrophy after splenectomy, explaining relapse of haematological disease. Neuroendocrine tumours, nodes and adenomas do not match splenic enhancement.

Option by option

  • A. Enlarged lymph node

    A lymph node enhances less and is not isodense to the spleen.

  • B. Accessory spleen (correct)

    Correct. Identical enhancement in every phase indicates splenic tissue.

  • C. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour

    A neuroendocrine tumour enhances avidly in the arterial phase and differs from the spleen.

  • D. Adrenal adenoma

    An adrenal adenoma lies in the adrenal gland and is lipid-rich.

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 B, Accessory spleen. An accessory spleen is a congenital splenic nodule that follows spleen attenuation in all phases and can hypertrophy after splenectomy, explaining relapse of haematological disease.

Why is "Enlarged lymph node" not the answer?

A lymph node enhances less and is not isodense to the spleen.

Why is "Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour" not the answer?

A neuroendocrine tumour enhances avidly in the arterial phase and differs from the spleen.

Why is "Adrenal adenoma" not the answer?

An adrenal adenoma lies in the adrenal gland and is lipid-rich.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdominal and GI imaging: accessory spleen in Radiology. Neuroendocrine tumours, nodes and adenomas do not match splenic enhancement.

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 Abdominal and GI imaging: accessory spleen?

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.