Chest imaging: chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: 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 imaging: chronic eosinophilic pneumonia

Sample item

A middle-aged asthmatic woman has weeks of cough and fever, a peripheral blood eosinophilia and a chest radiograph showing dense peripheral upper zone consolidation sparing the central lung. Which description fits?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Photographic negative of pulmonary oedema, typical of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia produces peripheral, often upper zone, consolidation that is the reverse of the central pattern of cardiogenic oedema, and the appearance is called the photographic negative of pulmonary oedema. It responds quickly to corticosteroids.

Option by option

  • A. Basal honeycombing of fibrosis

    Honeycombing is a basal, fibrotic pattern.

  • B. Apical cavity of reactivation tuberculosis

    Reactivation tuberculosis typically cavitates in the apical segments.

  • C. Photographic negative of pulmonary oedema, typical of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (correct)

    Correct. Peripheral dense opacity with central sparing is the negative of pulmonary oedema.

  • D. Bat wing perihilar opacity of cardiogenic oedema

    A bat wing pattern is central, not peripheral.

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 C, Photographic negative of pulmonary oedema, typical of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia produces peripheral, often upper zone, consolidation that is the reverse of the central pattern of cardiogenic oedema, and the appearance is called the photographic negative of pulmonary oedema.

Why is "Basal honeycombing of fibrosis" not the answer?

Honeycombing is a basal, fibrotic pattern.

Why is "Apical cavity of reactivation tuberculosis" not the answer?

Reactivation tuberculosis typically cavitates in the apical segments.

Why is "Bat wing perihilar opacity of cardiogenic oedema" not the answer?

A bat wing pattern is central, not peripheral.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: chronic eosinophilic pneumonia in Radiology. It responds quickly to corticosteroids.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: chronic eosinophilic pneumonia?

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.