Chest radiography: 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 radiography

Sample item

Which chest radiograph feature favors pleural effusion over lobar consolidation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Blunting of the costophrenic angle with a meniscus

Pleural fluid layers dependently and typically blunts the costophrenic angle with a meniscus, unlike alveolar consolidation containing air bronchograms.

Option by option

  • A. Volume loss pulling a fissure

    Fissure displacement suggests lobar volume loss.

  • B. Blunting of the costophrenic angle with a meniscus (correct)

    Correct: dependent fluid creates a meniscus and angle blunting.

  • C. A focal cavitating lesion

    Cavitation has an infectious or malignant differential.

  • D. Air bronchograms within an opacity

    Air bronchograms favour alveolar consolidation.

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.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is B, Blunting of the costophrenic angle with a meniscus. Pleural fluid layers dependently and typically blunts the costophrenic angle with a meniscus, unlike alveolar consolidation containing air bronchograms.

Why is "Volume loss pulling a fissure" not the answer?

Fissure displacement suggests lobar volume loss.

Why is "A focal cavitating lesion" not the answer?

Cavitation has an infectious or malignant differential.

Why is "Air bronchograms within an opacity" not the answer?

Air bronchograms favour alveolar consolidation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest radiography in Radiology. The correct option holds because: Correct: dependent fluid creates a meniscus and angle blunting.

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 Chest radiography?

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.