Neuroimaging MCQs Radiology

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

1. What imaging modality is most commonly used for evaluating acute intracranial hemorrhage?
A) MRI
B) PET scan
C) CT scan
D) Ultrasound

Answer: C) CT scan


2. Which imaging technique provides the best detail of brain soft tissues?
A) X-ray
B) CT scan
C) PET scan
D) MRI

Answer: D) MRI


3. What does a “dew drop on a rose petal” sign on MRI suggest?
A) Glioblastoma
B) Neurocysticercosis
C) Multiple sclerosis
D) Alzheimer’s disease

Answer: B) Neurocysticercosis


4. What imaging feature is characteristic of a subdural hematoma on a CT scan?
A) Crescent-shaped hyperdensity
B) Biconvex hyperdensity
C) Hypodense mass
D) Increased signal intensity

Answer: A) Crescent-shaped hyperdensity


5. What is the primary imaging modality for evaluating brain tumors?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) Ultrasound
D) PET scan

Answer: B) MRI


6. Which MRI sequence is best for evaluating brain white matter lesions?
A) T1-weighted
B) T2-weighted
C) Diffusion-weighted
D) Gradient echo

Answer: B) T2-weighted


7. What does the “butterfly glioma” pattern on MRI suggest?
A) Metastatic disease
B) Diffuse glioma
C) Meningioma
D) Hemorrhagic stroke

Answer: B) Diffuse glioma


8. Which imaging feature is indicative of a stroke in the acute phase?
A) Hypodense area on CT
B) Hyperintense area on T1-weighted MRI
C) Normal signal on MRI
D) Calcification

Answer: A) Hypodense area on CT


9. What does the “cerebellar atrophy” pattern on MRI often indicate?
A) Multiple sclerosis
B) Glioblastoma
C) Alzheimer’s disease
D) Hydrocephalus

Answer: A) Multiple sclerosis


10. What imaging modality is commonly used for pre-surgical mapping of brain functions?
A) X-ray
B) Functional MRI (fMRI)
C) CT scan
D) PET scan

Answer: B) Functional MRI (fMRI)


11. Which MRI sequence is best for visualizing hemorrhagic lesions?
A) T1-weighted
B) T2-weighted
C) Gradient echo
D) Diffusion-weighted

Answer: C) Gradient echo


12. What is the typical appearance of a brain abscess on an MRI?
A) Ring-enhancing lesion with central necrosis
B) Hypodense mass
C) Hyperintense lesion
D) Calcified mass

Answer: A) Ring-enhancing lesion with central necrosis


13. What does the “tram-track sign” on MRI suggest?
A) Meningioma
B) Neurofibromatosis type 2
C) Glioblastoma
D) Metastatic disease

Answer: B) Neurofibromatosis type 2


14. Which imaging feature is indicative of a subarachnoid hemorrhage on a CT scan?
A) Hyperdensity in the subarachnoid space
B) Hypodense lesion
C) Isodense mass
D) Soft tissue swelling

Answer: A) Hyperdensity in the subarachnoid space


15. What imaging modality is used to assess brain perfusion?
A) X-ray
B) CT perfusion imaging
C) MRI
D) PET scan

Answer: B) CT perfusion imaging


16. What does the “egg-shell calcification” appearance on an MRI suggest?
A) Glioblastoma
B) Neurocysticercosis
C) Meningioma
D) Metastatic disease

Answer: B) Neurocysticercosis


17. Which MRI sequence is best for visualizing spinal cord lesions?
A) T1-weighted
B) T2-weighted
C) STIR
D) Gradient echo

Answer: C) STIR


18. What is the characteristic appearance of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) on MRI?
A) Nidus of vessels with mixed signal intensities
B) Ring-enhancing lesion
C) Hyperintense mass
D) Calcified lesion

Answer: A) Nidus of vessels with mixed signal intensities


19. What does the “moon facies” sign on an MRI suggest?
A) Chronic hydrocephalus
B) Glioblastoma
C) Meningioma
D) Brain abscess

Answer: A) Chronic hydrocephalus


20. What imaging feature is characteristic of a cavernous malformation?
A) Mulberry-like appearance with signal voids
B) Hyperdense mass
C) Hypointense area
D) Ring-enhancing lesion

Answer: A) Mulberry-like appearance with signal voids


21. What does the “swiss cheese” appearance on MRI often indicate?
A) Glioblastoma
B) Neurocysticercosis
C) Meningioma
D) Stroke

Answer: B) Neurocysticercosis


22. What imaging modality is best for detecting small cerebral aneurysms?
A) X-ray
B) CT angiography
C) MRI
D) PET scan

Answer: B) CT angiography


23. What is the typical appearance of a pituitary adenoma on MRI?
A) Enlarged sella turcica with enhancing mass
B) Calcified lesion
C) Hyperintense area
D) Ring-enhancing lesion

Answer: A) Enlarged sella turcica with enhancing mass


24. What imaging feature suggests multiple sclerosis on MRI?
A) Multiple hyperintense lesions in white matter
B) Cortical atrophy
C) Subcortical calcifications
D) Normal signal intensity

Answer: A) Multiple hyperintense lesions in white matter


25. What does the “hair-on-end” appearance on an MRI suggest?
A) Glioblastoma
B) Sickle cell disease
C) Meningioma
D) Stroke

Answer: B) Sickle cell disease


26. What is the primary imaging feature of an epidural hematoma on CT?
A) Biconvex hyperdensity
B) Crescent-shaped hyperdensity
C) Hypodense mass
D) Fluid-filled cyst

Answer: A) Biconvex hyperdensity


27. Which imaging technique is best for assessing brain function and activity?
A) X-ray
B) CT scan
C) Functional MRI (fMRI)
D) PET scan

Answer: C) Functional MRI (fMRI)


28. What does the “hyperintense rim” on MRI suggest in a case of brain abscess?
A) Inflammatory edema
B) Tumor mass
C) Calcification
D) Normal brain tissue

Answer: A) Inflammatory edema


29. What is the most common imaging modality for diagnosing a herniated disc?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) CT scan
D) PET scan

Answer: B) MRI


30. What does the “subdural hygroma” on MRI often represent?
A) Chronic subdural hemorrhage
B) Acute hemorrhage
C) Brain abscess
D) Tumor mass

Answer: A) Chronic subdural hemorrhage


31. What imaging feature is typical of a meningioma on MRI?
A) Extra-axial mass with homogeneous enhancement
B) Subcortical lesion
C) Calcified cyst
D) Ring-enhancing lesion

Answer: A) Extra-axial mass with homogeneous enhancement


32. What does a “lacunar infarct” on an MRI indicate?
A) Small deep brain infarct
B) Large cortical infarct
C) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D) Tumor mass

Answer: A) Small deep brain infarct


33. What imaging modality is used to evaluate brain metabolism and function?
A) X-ray
B) PET scan
C) CT scan
D) MRI

Answer: B) PET scan


34. What does a “signal void” on MRI typically represent?
A) Hemorrhage or vascular structure
B) Tumor mass
C) Edema
D) Calcification

Answer: A) Hemorrhage or vascular structure


35. What is the typical appearance of an acute ischemic stroke on an MRI?
A) Hyperintense on diffusion-weighted imaging
B) Hypodense on T2-weighted imaging
C) Hyperdense on CT
D) Normal signal intensity

Answer: A) Hyperintense on diffusion-weighted imaging


36. What does the “bilateral thalamic lesions” on an MRI often suggest?
A) Metabolic or infectious process
B) Tumor mass
C) Subdural hematoma
D) Cortical infarct

Answer: A) Metabolic or infectious process


37. Which imaging feature is indicative of a glioblastoma multiforme?
A) Heterogeneous enhancement with necrotic center
B) Uniform enhancement
C) Calcified lesion
D) Normal brain tissue

Answer: A) Heterogeneous enhancement with necrotic center


38. What is the characteristic appearance of a meningioma on CT?
A) Hyperdense extra-axial mass
B) Hypodense lesion
C) Ring-enhancing mass
D) Fluid-filled cyst

Answer: A) Hyperdense extra-axial mass


39. What does the “starburst” pattern on an MRI often indicate?
A) Meningioma with surrounding edema
B) Glioblastoma
C) Subdural hematoma
D) Stroke

Answer: A) Meningioma with surrounding edema


40. What imaging feature is characteristic of a brain abscess on CT?
A) Ring-enhancing lesion with central necrosis
B) Hypodense mass
C) Hyperintense area
D) Normal brain tissue

Answer: A) Ring-enhancing lesion with central necrosis


41. What does the “white matter hyperintensities” on an MRI suggest in elderly patients?
A) Chronic ischemia or small vessel disease
B) Tumor mass
C) Subdural hematoma
D) Acute stroke

Answer: A) Chronic ischemia or small vessel disease


42. What is the typical appearance of a pituitary microadenoma on MRI?
A) Small enhancing lesion within the sella turcica
B) Large cystic mass
C) Hyperdense lesion
D) Normal pituitary gland

Answer: A) Small enhancing lesion within the sella turcica


43. What does the “double contour” sign on an MRI often represent?
A) Multiple sclerosis plaques
B) Subdural hematoma
C) Brain abscess
D) Meningioma

Answer: A) Multiple sclerosis plaques


44. What imaging modality is best for detecting amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease?
A) X-ray
B) PET scan
C) CT scan
D) MRI

Answer: B) PET scan


45. What does a “radiation-induced necrosis” look like on MRI?
A) Central necrosis with surrounding enhancement
B) Hyperintense lesion
C) Hypodense mass
D) Normal signal intensity

Answer: A) Central necrosis with surrounding enhancement


46. What is the most common MRI finding in acute meningitis?
A) Enhanced meningeal thickening
B) Subcortical lesions
C) Fluid-filled cyst
D) Calcified mass

Answer: A) Enhanced meningeal thickening


47. What imaging feature is typical of a non-contrast CT scan in detecting hydrocephalus?
A) Enlarged ventricles
B) Hyperdense mass
C) Hypodense lesions
D) Normal ventricle size

Answer: A) Enlarged ventricles


48. What does the “cystic component with peripheral nodular enhancement” on MRI suggest?
A) Ependymoma
B) Glioblastoma
C) Meningioma
D) Metastatic disease

Answer: A) Ependymoma


49. What imaging finding is characteristic of a brainstem glioma on MRI?
A) Diffuse enhancement with expansion of the brainstem
B) Subcortical lesion
C) Ring-enhancing mass
D) Calcified lesion

Answer: A) Diffuse enhancement with expansion of the brainstem


50. What does the “dural tail sign” on an MRI often indicate?
A) Meningioma
B) Glioblastoma
C) Subdural hematoma
D) Hydrocephalus

Answer: A) Meningioma