Liver imaging: enhancement of liver metastases: 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 · Liver imaging: enhancement of liver metastases

Sample item

A patient with a neuroendocrine tumour has liver metastases. In which CT phase are hypervascular metastases best detected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. The late arterial phase

Hypervascular metastases from neuroendocrine tumours, renal cell carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma and melanoma enhance avidly in the arterial phase and may be isodense later. Hypovascular metastases such as those from colorectal cancer are best seen in the portal venous phase as dark lesions. Multiphase technique therefore matters.

Option by option

  • A. The delayed phase only

    They may become isodense in the delayed phase.

  • B. The late arterial phase (correct)

    Correct. Hypervascular lesions stand out in the late arterial phase.

  • C. The non-contrast phase

    Non-contrast scans miss many lesions.

  • D. The excretory urographic phase

    The excretory phase is for the urinary tract.

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, The late arterial phase. Hypervascular metastases from neuroendocrine tumours, renal cell carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma and melanoma enhance avidly in the arterial phase and may be isodense later.

Why is "The delayed phase only" not the answer?

They may become isodense in the delayed phase.

Why is "The non-contrast phase" not the answer?

Non-contrast scans miss many lesions.

Why is "The excretory urographic phase" not the answer?

The excretory phase is for the urinary tract.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Liver imaging: enhancement of liver metastases in Radiology. Hypovascular metastases such as those from colorectal cancer are best seen in the portal venous phase as dark lesions. Multiphase technique therefore matters.

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 Liver imaging: enhancement of liver metastases?

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.