Neuroimaging: developmental venous anomaly: 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 · Neuroimaging: developmental venous anomaly

Sample item

Contrast MRI in a patient with headache shows multiple linear enhancing medullary veins converging on one enlarged draining vein in the cerebellar hemisphere, with no mass effect or haemorrhage. What is the appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Observation, because the anomaly drains normal brain

A developmental venous anomaly has a caput medusae appearance and is a normal variant of venous drainage, with the dilated vein draining normal brain. Removing or occluding it can cause venous infarction, so it is left alone. Surgery is considered only when it is associated with a cavernous malformation that bleeds.

Option by option

  • A. Endovascular embolisation

    Embolisation would occlude the normal venous drainage and risk infarction.

  • B. Stereotactic radiosurgery

    Radiosurgery is for arteriovenous malformations, not venous anomalies.

  • C. Observation, because the anomaly drains normal brain (correct)

    Correct. It is a benign variant and is managed conservatively.

  • D. Surgical excision

    Excision can cause venous infarction of the normal brain it drains.

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 C, Observation, because the anomaly drains normal brain. A developmental venous anomaly has a caput medusae appearance and is a normal variant of venous drainage, with the dilated vein draining normal brain.

Why is "Endovascular embolisation" not the answer?

Embolisation would occlude the normal venous drainage and risk infarction.

Why is "Stereotactic radiosurgery" not the answer?

Radiosurgery is for arteriovenous malformations, not venous anomalies.

Why is "Surgical excision" not the answer?

Excision can cause venous infarction of the normal brain it drains.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: developmental venous anomaly in Radiology. Removing or occluding it can cause venous infarction, so it is left alone. Surgery is considered only when it is associated with a cavernous malformation that bleeds.

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 Neuroimaging: developmental venous anomaly?

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.