Musculoskeletal radiology MCQs Radiology

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: September 14, 2024

1. What imaging modality is most commonly used to assess bone fractures?
A) MRI
B) PET scan
C) X-ray
D) Ultrasound

Answer: C) X-ray


2. Which imaging technique is preferred for evaluating soft tissue injuries around joints?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) CT scan
D) PET scan

Answer: B) MRI


3. What is the primary use of a CT scan in musculoskeletal radiology?
A) Detailed evaluation of complex fractures
B) Soft tissue imaging
C) Bone density measurement
D) Cartilage assessment

Answer: A) Detailed evaluation of complex fractures


4. What does a “sunburst” pattern on an X-ray typically indicate?
A) Osteoporosis
B) Osteosarcoma
C) Rheumatoid arthritis
D) Osteomyelitis

Answer: B) Osteosarcoma


5. What imaging sign is indicative of a “bony ankylosis” in rheumatoid arthritis?
A) Joint fusion
B) Soft tissue swelling
C) Subchondral cysts
D) Osteophyte formation

Answer: A) Joint fusion


6. What does the “moth-eaten” appearance on an X-ray suggest?
A) Ewing’s sarcoma
B) Osteoarthritis
C) Rheumatoid arthritis
D) Osteoporosis

Answer: A) Ewing’s sarcoma


7. Which radiographic feature is characteristic of osteoarthritis?
A) Joint space narrowing
B) Soft tissue swelling
C) Periosteal reaction
D) Osteoblastic lesions

Answer: A) Joint space narrowing


8. What does a “cortical breach” on an X-ray indicate?
A) Bone metastasis
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Simple bone cyst
D) Normal bone growth

Answer: A) Bone metastasis


9. What is the hallmark radiographic finding of a simple bone cyst?
A) Well-defined, central radiolucency
B) Irregular bony destruction
C) Periosteal elevation
D) Joint effusion

Answer: A) Well-defined, central radiolucency


10. How is a meniscal tear typically diagnosed?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) Ultrasound
D) CT scan

Answer: B) MRI


11. What does the “chondroid matrix” appearance on an MRI usually indicate?
A) Cartilage tumors
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Ligament tear
D) Bone contusion

Answer: A) Cartilage tumors


12. Which imaging modality is best for evaluating bone marrow edema?
A) X-ray
B) CT scan
C) MRI
D) Ultrasound

Answer: C) MRI


13. What does the “bone-on-bone” appearance on an X-ray suggest?
A) Advanced osteoarthritis
B) Rheumatoid arthritis
C) Osteomyelitis
D) Bone cyst

Answer: A) Advanced osteoarthritis


14. What radiographic feature is indicative of a bone infection (osteomyelitis)?
A) Periosteal reaction and bone destruction
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Soft tissue swelling
D) Normal bone density

Answer: A) Periosteal reaction and bone destruction


15. Which imaging modality is most effective for assessing the rotator cuff tendons?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) CT scan
D) Ultrasound

Answer: B) MRI


16. What is the primary imaging sign of Paget’s disease on an X-ray?
A) Bone enlargement and deformity
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Periosteal reaction
D) Soft tissue calcification

Answer: A) Bone enlargement and deformity


17. What imaging feature is characteristic of a bone metastasis on a CT scan?
A) Lytic lesions with possible cortical destruction
B) Increased bone density
C) Uniform soft tissue opacity
D) Joint effusion

Answer: A) Lytic lesions with possible cortical destruction


18. What does the “teardrop sign” on an X-ray often indicate?
A) Spondyloarthritis
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Osteosarcoma
D) Simple bone cyst

Answer: A) Spondyloarthritis


19. How is an acute fracture typically identified on an X-ray?
A) Fracture line through the cortex
B) Soft tissue swelling
C) Increased bone density
D) Normal bone contour

Answer: A) Fracture line through the cortex


20. What does the “snowball” appearance on an MRI of the bone often represent?
A) Osteosarcoma
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Simple bone cyst
D) Rheumatoid arthritis

Answer: A) Osteosarcoma


21. Which radiographic feature is indicative of a fracture-dislocation of the spine?
A) Displacement of vertebrae and disruption of normal alignment
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Periosteal reaction
D) Soft tissue calcification

Answer: A) Displacement of vertebrae and disruption of normal alignment


22. What is the typical appearance of a bone bruise on MRI?
A) Bone marrow edema and low signal intensity
B) Hyperdense mass
C) Fluid-filled cyst
D) Normal bone signal

Answer: A) Bone marrow edema and low signal intensity


23. What imaging modality is preferred for evaluating fractures of the scaphoid bone?
A) X-ray
B) CT scan
C) MRI
D) Ultrasound

Answer: B) CT scan


24. What does a “C-shaped” radiolucency on an X-ray of the femur often indicate?
A) Chondrosarcoma
B) Simple bone cyst
C) Osteomyelitis
D) Paget’s disease

Answer: A) Chondrosarcoma


25. Which imaging finding is characteristic of a bone tumor on X-ray?
A) Irregular borders and variable density
B) Uniform density
C) Joint effusion
D) Soft tissue swelling

Answer: A) Irregular borders and variable density


26. What does a “doughnut sign” on MRI of the spine typically indicate?
A) Intervertebral disc herniation
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Bone metastasis
D) Vertebral fracture

Answer: A) Intervertebral disc herniation


27. What is the most common imaging finding in acute gouty arthritis?
A) Erosions and soft tissue swelling
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Periosteal reaction
D) Bone marrow edema

Answer: A) Erosions and soft tissue swelling


28. How is a meniscal tear visualized on an MRI?
A) Signal changes and abnormal meniscal shape
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Cortical destruction
D) Fluid-filled cyst

Answer: A) Signal changes and abnormal meniscal shape


29. What does a “butterfly vertebra” on an X-ray indicate?
A) Congenital anomaly
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Osteosarcoma
D) Vertebral compression fracture

Answer: A) Congenital anomaly


30. What is the typical appearance of a bone metastasis on an MRI?
A) Low signal intensity with irregular borders
B) Uniform high signal intensity
C) Well-defined, high-density mass
D) Fluid-filled sac

Answer: A) Low signal intensity with irregular borders


31. What imaging feature is characteristic of avascular necrosis on an MRI?
A) Bone marrow edema and subchondral collapse
B) Increased bone density
C) Joint space narrowing
D) Uniform soft tissue opacity

Answer: A) Bone marrow edema and subchondral collapse


32. How is a stress fracture typically diagnosed?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) Ultrasound
D) CT scan

Answer: B) MRI


33. What is the typical appearance of a joint effusion on an ultrasound?
A) An anechoic fluid collection
B) Hyperdense mass
C) Uniform soft tissue density
D) Bone marrow edema

Answer: A) An anechoic fluid collection


34. What radiographic feature suggests a diagnosis of osteochondroma?
A) Exostosis with a cartilaginous cap
B) Soft tissue swelling
C) Increased bone density
D) Joint space narrowing

Answer: A) Exostosis with a cartilaginous cap


35. What does the “step ladder” sign on an X-ray often represent?
A) Bone tumor with soft tissue extension
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Simple bone cyst
D) Osteoarthritis

Answer: A) Bone tumor with soft tissue extension


36. What does the “widened joint space” on an X-ray typically indicate?
A) Traumatic injury or infection
B) Osteosarcoma
C) Osteomyelitis
D) Paget’s disease

Answer: A) Traumatic injury or infection


37. What is a common radiographic feature of osteosarcoma?
A) Periosteal reaction with new bone formation
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Fluid-filled cyst
D) Normal bone density

Answer: A) Periosteal reaction with new bone formation


38. What does the “bone island” appearance on an X-ray typically suggest?
A) Benign bone lesion
B) Malignant bone tumor
C) Osteomyelitis
D) Joint effusion

Answer: A) Benign bone lesion


39. What is the typical imaging feature of a rotator cuff tear on an MRI?
A) Tendon disruption and fluid accumulation
B) Increased bone density
C) Joint space narrowing
D) Soft tissue calcification

Answer: A) Tendon disruption and fluid accumulation


40. How is a bone contusion usually visualized on MRI?
A) Bone marrow edema and signal changes
B) Hyperdense mass
C) Fluid-filled sac
D) Uniform soft tissue density

Answer: A) Bone marrow edema and signal changes


41. What imaging feature is indicative of an ankylosing spondylitis on an X-ray?
A) Bamboo spine appearance
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Periosteal reaction
D) Soft tissue swelling

Answer: A) Bamboo spine appearance


42. How is a benign bone tumor like a giant cell tumor typically identified on an MRI?
A) Lytic lesion with subarticular location
B) Increased bone density
C) Uniform high signal intensity
D) Fluid-filled cyst

Answer: A) Lytic lesion with subarticular location


43. What is the characteristic appearance of a Paget’s disease lesion on an X-ray?
A) Enlarged and deformed bone
B) Joint space narrowing
C) Periosteal reaction
D) Fluid-filled cyst

Answer: A) Enlarged and deformed bone


44. What imaging feature is typical of an acute ligamentous injury?
A) Increased signal intensity in the ligament on MRI
B) Bone marrow edema
C) Joint space narrowing
D) Soft tissue calcification

Answer: A) Increased signal intensity in the ligament on MRI


45. What is the common radiographic finding in osteoporosis?
A) Decreased bone density and increased fragility
B) Increased bone density
C) Joint space narrowing
D) Soft tissue swelling

Answer: A) Decreased bone density and increased fragility


46. What does the “serpentine pattern” on an MRI often suggest in bone imaging?
A) Bone metastasis or lymphoma
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Simple bone cyst
D) Osteosarcoma

Answer: A) Bone metastasis or lymphoma


47. What is the typical appearance of a calcaneal fracture on an X-ray?
A) Subluxation or displacement of the calcaneus
B) Increased bone density
C) Uniform soft tissue density
D) Fluid-filled sac

Answer: A) Subluxation or displacement of the calcaneus


48. What does the “ground-glass” appearance on an X-ray suggest?
A) Fibrous dysplasia
B) Osteomyelitis
C) Osteosarcoma
D) Joint effusion

Answer: A) Fibrous dysplasia


49. What radiographic feature is indicative of a bone cyst?
A) Well-defined radiolucency with cortical thinning
B) Increased bone density
C) Soft tissue swelling
D) Irregular bony destruction

Answer: A) Well-defined radiolucency with cortical thinning


50. How is a calcified soft tissue mass typically visualized on an X-ray?
A) Radiopaque mass with well-defined borders
B) Increased bone density
C) Uniform soft tissue density
D) Fluid-filled cyst

Answer: A) Radiopaque mass with well-defined borders