Abdominal and GI imaging: air enema reduction of intussusception: 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 · Abdominal and GI imaging: air enema reduction of intussusception

Sample item

A 9-month-old has colicky pain, red currant jelly stools and a sausage-shaped mass, and ultrasound shows a target sign. He is stable with no signs of peritonitis. What is the preferred treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Image-guided air enema reduction

In a stable child without perforation or peritonitis, ileocolic intussusception is treated by image-guided air or hydrostatic enema reduction, which succeeds in most cases. Surgery is reserved for failed reduction, perforation or peritonitis. A barium meal does not reduce it.

Option by option

  • A. Image-guided air enema reduction (correct)

    Correct. Air enema reduction is the first-line treatment in a stable child.

  • B. Immediate laparotomy

    Laparotomy is reserved for failure, perforation or peritonitis.

  • C. Barium meal examination

    A barium meal examines the upper gut and cannot reduce a colonic lesion.

  • D. Observation at home

    Untreated intussusception progresses to ischaemia and perforation.

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 A, Image-guided air enema reduction. In a stable child without perforation or peritonitis, ileocolic intussusception is treated by image-guided air or hydrostatic enema reduction, which succeeds in most cases.

Why is "Immediate laparotomy" not the answer?

Laparotomy is reserved for failure, perforation or peritonitis.

Why is "Barium meal examination" not the answer?

A barium meal examines the upper gut and cannot reduce a colonic lesion.

Why is "Observation at home" not the answer?

Untreated intussusception progresses to ischaemia and perforation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdominal and GI imaging: air enema reduction of intussusception in Radiology. Surgery is reserved for failed reduction, perforation or peritonitis. A barium meal does not reduce it.

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 Abdominal and GI imaging: air enema reduction of intussusception?

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.