Radiology (Prometric)

CT in a patient with acute abdominal pain demonstrates a C-shaped cluster of dilated small-bowel loops, two adjacent transition points, converging mesenteric vessels, mesenteric edema, and reduced mural enhancement. What is the most important interpretation?

A 66-year-old patient has chronic episodic inflammatory arthritis and hyperuricemia. Hand radiographs are shown. Which diagnosis best explains the erosive pattern?

A patient is referred for percutaneous biopsy of a deep pelvic mass. Review of the planned CT-guided path shows that the straight-line trajectory would traverse uninvolved small bowel. What is the safest procedural decision?

A 63-year-old patient presents with severe focal lumbar pain, fever, and elevated C-reactive protein. MRI shows contiguous L3 and L4 endplate marrow edema, fluid-like signal within the intervening disc, endplate enhancement, and an enhancing paravertebral phlegmon. Which diagnosis is most likely?

Two otherwise identical helical CT acquisitions use pitches of 0.75 and 1.50 while tube current, rotation time, collimation, and automatic exposure controls are disabled. What happens when pitch is increased to 1.50?

Coronary CTA demonstrates a noncalcified plaque with very low attenuation, outward vessel remodeling, and a ring of higher attenuation surrounding a low-attenuation core. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

Breast MRI performed two years after implant reconstruction shows a new moderate-volume peri-implant fluid collection developing long after surgery, with enhancing capsular nodularity. Which recommendation is most appropriate?

A 54-year-old woman with no prior breast surgery or trauma undergoes routine screening mammography. The provided craniocaudal image demonstrates the screening abnormality requiring recall. What is the most appropriate next imaging step?

An outpatient chest radiograph is obtained for persistent cough in a patient with no recent abdominal surgery or procedure. The image is shown. What is the most appropriate action by the interpreting radiologist?

A 72-year-old retired shipyard worker has progressive dyspnea, chest discomfort, and recurrent unilateral pleural effusion. Contrast-enhanced CT is shown. Which diagnosis is most likely?