Nuclear medicine: radionuclide cisternography: 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: radionuclide cisternography

Sample item

A patient has clear watery nasal discharge after head trauma, and the source of a suspected CSF leak is unclear. Which nuclear study can help show it?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Radionuclide cisternography after intrathecal tracer, with pledgets in the nose

A radiotracer injected into the CSF space accumulates on nasal pledgets if there is a leak, and imaging shows its path. It is useful when CT cisternography or high-resolution CT does not settle the matter. It also helps assess CSF flow in some hydrocephalus cases.

Option by option

  • A. Gastric emptying scan

    A gastric emptying scan evaluates stomach motility.

  • B. Radionuclide cisternography after intrathecal tracer, with pledgets in the nose (correct)

    Correct. Cisternography with nasal pledgets demonstrates CSF leakage.

  • C. Renal DMSA scan

    A DMSA scan shows renal cortical scarring.

  • D. Ventilation-perfusion scan

    A V/Q scan assesses the lungs.

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, Radionuclide cisternography after intrathecal tracer, with pledgets in the nose. A radiotracer injected into the CSF space accumulates on nasal pledgets if there is a leak, and imaging shows its path.

Why is "Gastric emptying scan" not the answer?

A gastric emptying scan evaluates stomach motility.

Why is "Renal DMSA scan" not the answer?

A DMSA scan shows renal cortical scarring.

Why is "Ventilation-perfusion scan" not the answer?

A V/Q scan assesses the lungs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: radionuclide cisternography in Radiology. It is useful when CT cisternography or high-resolution CT does not settle the matter. It also helps assess CSF flow in some hydrocephalus cases.

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: radionuclide cisternography?

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.