Nuclear medicine: 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 · Nuclear medicine

Sample item

A 3-year-old child has painless, large-volume rectal bleeding, and Meckel diverticulum is suspected. Which radionuclide study is used?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Technetium-99m pertechnetate scan

Pertechnetate is taken up by gastric mucosa. A Meckel diverticulum that contains ectopic gastric mucosa therefore appears as a focus of uptake in the right lower abdomen at the same time as the stomach. This ectopic mucosa also explains the ulceration and bleeding.

Option by option

  • A. Technetium-99m DTPA scan

    DTPA is mainly cleared by glomerular filtration and is used for renal studies.

  • B. Technetium-99m pertechnetate scan (correct)

    Correct. Uptake in ectopic gastric mucosa identifies the diverticulum.

  • C. Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate scan

    Methylene diphosphonate is a bone-seeking agent.

  • D. Technetium-99m sulfur colloid scan

    Sulfur colloid is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system and is used for liver and spleen imaging.

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.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is B, Technetium-99m pertechnetate scan. Pertechnetate is taken up by gastric mucosa.

Why is "Technetium-99m DTPA scan" not the answer?

DTPA is mainly cleared by glomerular filtration and is used for renal studies.

Why is "Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate scan" not the answer?

Methylene diphosphonate is a bone-seeking agent.

Why is "Technetium-99m sulfur colloid scan" not the answer?

Sulfur colloid is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system and is used for liver and spleen imaging.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine in Radiology. A Meckel diverticulum that contains ectopic gastric mucosa therefore appears as a focus of uptake in the right lower abdomen at the same time as the stomach. This ectopic mucosa also explains the ulceration and bleeding.

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 Nuclear medicine?

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.