Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: connective tissue disease and radiotherapy: 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 · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: connective tissue disease and radiotherapy

Sample item

Which pre-existing condition most increases the risk of severe late tissue toxicity after therapeutic radiotherapy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Systemic sclerosis

Active connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma and lupus predispose to severe late fibrosis and necrosis in irradiated tissue, so radiotherapy is used cautiously. The other conditions do not change the radiosensitivity of normal tissue.

Option by option

  • A. Systemic sclerosis (correct)

    Correct. Scleroderma predisposes to severe late fibrosis.

  • B. Essential hypertension

    Hypertension does not alter normal tissue tolerance.

  • C. Iron deficiency anaemia

    Iron deficiency anaemia does not alter normal tissue tolerance.

  • D. Hypothyroidism

    Hypothyroidism does not alter normal tissue response to radiation.

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, Systemic sclerosis. Active connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma and lupus predispose to severe late fibrosis and necrosis in irradiated tissue, so radiotherapy is used cautiously.

Why is "Essential hypertension" not the answer?

Hypertension does not alter normal tissue tolerance.

Why is "Iron deficiency anaemia" not the answer?

Iron deficiency anaemia does not alter normal tissue tolerance.

Why is "Hypothyroidism" not the answer?

Hypothyroidism does not alter normal tissue response to radiation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: connective tissue disease and radiotherapy in Radiology. The other conditions do not change the radiosensitivity of normal tissue.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: connective tissue disease and radiotherapy?

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.