Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer: 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 · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer

Sample item

A fit patient has a resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the mid-oesophagus with nodal involvement. Which strategy is commonly used before surgery?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by oesophagectomy

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy shrinks locally advanced oesophageal tumours, increases the rate of complete resection and improves survival compared with surgery alone. Stenting is palliative, and thyroxine and intrathecal chemotherapy have no role.

Option by option

  • A. Immediate palliative stenting only

    Stenting only is palliative and is not offered to a fit patient with resectable disease.

  • B. Adjuvant thyroxine

    Thyroxine has no role in oesophageal cancer.

  • C. Intrathecal chemotherapy

    Intrathecal chemotherapy treats meningeal disease, not an oesophageal primary.

  • D. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by oesophagectomy (correct)

    Correct. Chemoradiotherapy before oesophagectomy improves resection and survival.

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 D, Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by oesophagectomy. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy shrinks locally advanced oesophageal tumours, increases the rate of complete resection and improves survival compared with surgery alone.

Why is "Immediate palliative stenting only" not the answer?

Stenting only is palliative and is not offered to a fit patient with resectable disease.

Why is "Adjuvant thyroxine" not the answer?

Thyroxine has no role in oesophageal cancer.

Why is "Intrathecal chemotherapy" not the answer?

Intrathecal chemotherapy treats meningeal disease, not an oesophageal primary.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer in Radiology. Stenting is palliative, and thyroxine and intrathecal chemotherapy have no role.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer?

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.