Chest imaging: 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.

Try it

Radiology · Chest imaging

Sample item

A woman with long-standing mitral stenosis presents with breathlessness. Her chest radiograph shows fine, short horizontal lines at the lung periphery adjoining the pleura at the costophrenic angles. These Kerley B lines represent:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Thickened interlobular septa from interstitial oedema

Kerley B lines are short horizontal lines about 1 to 2 cm long at the lung bases that reach the pleural surface. They represent interlobular septa thickened by fluid or fibrosis. In this patient they reflect raised pulmonary venous pressure from mitral stenosis.

Option by option

  • A. Thickened interlobular septa from interstitial oedema (correct)

    Correct. Fluid in the interlobular septa makes them visible as thin lines.

  • B. Cavitating tuberculous lesions

    Cavitating tuberculous lesions appear as thick-walled cavities, usually in the upper zones.

  • C. Dilated bronchi with thickened walls

    Dilated bronchi show tramline or ring shadows rather than short peripheral septal lines.

  • D. Calcified pleural plaques

    Pleural plaques appear as irregular or calcified pleural thickening and are linked to asbestos.

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 A, Thickened interlobular septa from interstitial oedema. Kerley B lines are short horizontal lines about 1 to 2 cm long at the lung bases that reach the pleural surface.

Why is "Cavitating tuberculous lesions" not the answer?

Cavitating tuberculous lesions appear as thick-walled cavities, usually in the upper zones.

Why is "Dilated bronchi with thickened walls" not the answer?

Dilated bronchi show tramline or ring shadows rather than short peripheral septal lines.

Why is "Calcified pleural plaques" not the answer?

Pleural plaques appear as irregular or calcified pleural thickening and are linked to asbestos.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging in Radiology. They represent interlobular septa thickened by fluid or fibrosis. In this patient they reflect raised pulmonary venous pressure from mitral stenosis.

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 imaging?

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.