Nuclear medicine: 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 · Nuclear medicine

Sample item

A young woman has right upper quadrant pain and an equivocal ultrasound. A hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan is performed. Which finding supports acute cholecystitis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Non-visualisation of the gallbladder despite tracer in the bile ducts and bowel

In acute cholecystitis the cystic duct is usually obstructed, so the radiotracer excreted in bile does not fill the gallbladder. The tracer appears in the common bile duct and small bowel while the gallbladder remains unseen. Normal filling within about an hour effectively excludes acute cholecystitis.

Option by option

  • A. Tracer accumulation in the lungs

    Lung accumulation of tracer is not part of a hepatobiliary study.

  • B. Prompt gallbladder filling within an hour

    Prompt gallbladder filling indicates a patent cystic duct and argues against acute cholecystitis.

  • C. Non-visualisation of the gallbladder despite tracer in the bile ducts and bowel (correct)

    Correct. Cystic duct obstruction prevents tracer from entering the gallbladder.

  • D. Absence of tracer in the liver

    Absence of tracer in the liver would suggest severe hepatocellular failure, not cholecystitis.

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 C, Non-visualisation of the gallbladder despite tracer in the bile ducts and bowel. In acute cholecystitis the cystic duct is usually obstructed, so the radiotracer excreted in bile does not fill the gallbladder.

Why is "Tracer accumulation in the lungs" not the answer?

Lung accumulation of tracer is not part of a hepatobiliary study.

Why is "Prompt gallbladder filling within an hour" not the answer?

Prompt gallbladder filling indicates a patent cystic duct and argues against acute cholecystitis.

Why is "Absence of tracer in the liver" not the answer?

Absence of tracer in the liver would suggest severe hepatocellular failure, not cholecystitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine in Radiology. The tracer appears in the common bile duct and small bowel while the gallbladder remains unseen. Normal filling within about an hour effectively excludes acute cholecystitis.

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 Nuclear medicine?

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.