GI imaging: Carman meniscus sign: 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 · GI imaging: Carman meniscus sign

Sample item

A double contrast barium meal in a man with epigastric pain shows a lesser curve gastric ulcer with a flat, lenticular crater whose outer margin is convex toward the lumen with elevated, heaped edges. What is this sign?

AHampton line of a benign ulcerBRat-tail sign of an oesophageal webCUlcer collar of a benign ulcerDCarman meniscus sign of a malignant gastric ulcer

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Carman meniscus sign of a malignant gastric ulcer

A malignant gastric ulcer is a shallow, flat crater within a tumour mass that is convex toward the lumen with a rim of heaped-up tissue, forming a meniscus. Benign ulcers project beyond the expected contour of the lumen.

Option by option

A. Hampton line of a benign ulcer
Hampton line is a thin lucent line at the ulcer base that indicates a benign ulcer.
B. Rat-tail sign of an oesophageal web
No such sign belongs to oesophageal webs.
C. Ulcer collar of a benign ulcer
An ulcer collar is oedema around the neck of a benign ulcer.
D. Carman meniscus sign of a malignant gastric ulcer (correct)
Correct. The meniscus-shaped crater with heaped edges is Carman sign.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is D, Carman meniscus sign of a malignant gastric ulcer. A malignant gastric ulcer is a shallow, flat crater within a tumour mass that is convex toward the lumen with a rim of heaped-up tissue, forming a meniscus.

Why is "Hampton line of a benign ulcer" not the answer?

Hampton line is a thin lucent line at the ulcer base that indicates a benign ulcer.

Why is "Rat-tail sign of an oesophageal web" not the answer?

No such sign belongs to oesophageal webs.

Why is "Ulcer collar of a benign ulcer" not the answer?

An ulcer collar is oedema around the neck of a benign ulcer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests GI imaging: Carman meniscus sign in Radiology. Benign ulcers project beyond the expected contour of the lumen.

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 GI imaging: Carman meniscus sign?

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.