Radiotherapy: stereotactic body 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: stereotactic body radiotherapy

Sample item

A 74-year-old man with severe COPD has a 2 cm peripheral stage I non-small-cell lung cancer and cannot tolerate surgery. Which treatment offers high local control with few sessions?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Stereotactic body radiotherapy

Stereotactic body radiotherapy gives a few high-dose, highly conformal fractions to a small tumour and achieves local control comparable with surgery in medically inoperable early lung cancer. Precise imaging and motion management are needed. Whole-lung irradiation would harm already poor lung function.

Option by option

  • A. Conventional whole-lung irradiation

    Whole-lung irradiation would cause serious toxicity.

  • B. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (correct)

    Correct. SBRT is the standard for inoperable early lung cancer.

  • C. Observation only

    Observation forgoes curative treatment.

  • D. Prophylactic cranial irradiation

    Prophylactic cranial irradiation is for small cell lung cancer.

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 B, Stereotactic body radiotherapy. Stereotactic body radiotherapy gives a few high-dose, highly conformal fractions to a small tumour and achieves local control comparable with surgery in medically inoperable early lung cancer.

Why is "Conventional whole-lung irradiation" not the answer?

Whole-lung irradiation would cause serious toxicity.

Why is "Observation only" not the answer?

Observation forgoes curative treatment.

Why is "Prophylactic cranial irradiation" not the answer?

Prophylactic cranial irradiation is for small cell lung cancer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy: stereotactic body radiotherapy in Radiology. Precise imaging and motion management are needed. Whole-lung irradiation would harm already poor lung function.

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 Radiotherapy: stereotactic body 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.