Radiologic anatomy of the chest MCQs Radiology

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

1. What is the primary landmark used to identify the right main bronchus on a chest X-ray?
A) Left lung
B) Right hilum
C) Diaphragm
D) Heart shadow

Answer: B) Right hilum


2. Which structure appears as a well-defined radiolucent area on a chest X-ray due to its air content?
A) Trachea
B) Heart
C) Liver
D) Ribs

Answer: A) Trachea


3. What is the normal position of the carina in a chest X-ray?
A) Above the right main bronchus
B) At the level of the T5-T6 vertebrae
C) Below the left main bronchus
D) At the level of the diaphragm

Answer: B) At the level of the T5-T6 vertebrae


4. On a frontal chest X-ray, which structure is located posterior to the trachea?
A) Heart
B) Esophagus
C) Lungs
D) Ribs

Answer: B) Esophagus


5. What does the silhouette sign on a chest X-ray indicate?
A) Loss of normal lung-to-heart contrast due to adjacent densities
B) Presence of a rib fracture
C) Air bronchogram
D) Hyperinflation of the lungs

Answer: A) Loss of normal lung-to-heart contrast due to adjacent densities


6. Which lung is typically higher on a chest X-ray due to the position of the diaphragm?
A) Right lung
B) Left lung
C) Both lungs are at the same level
D) Varies with age

Answer: A) Right lung


7. What is the radiographic appearance of the left atrial enlargement on a chest X-ray?
A) Double shadow of the heart
B) Elevated diaphragm
C) Widened mediastinum
D) Blurred vascular markings

Answer: A) Double shadow of the heart


8. On a chest X-ray, which structure is visualized as a dome-shaped opacity below the lungs?
A) Diaphragm
B) Heart
C) Liver
D) Aortic arch

Answer: A) Diaphragm


9. Which imaging sign is associated with the presence of fluid in the pleural space?
A) Meniscus sign
B) Silhouette sign
C) Air bronchogram
D) Kerley B lines

Answer: A) Meniscus sign


10. What does the presence of Kerley B lines indicate on a chest X-ray?
A) Interstitial edema
B) Pleural effusion
C) Pneumothorax
D) Atelectasis

Answer: A) Interstitial edema


11. Where is the right hemidiaphragm typically positioned compared to the left on a chest X-ray?
A) Higher than the left hemidiaphragm
B) Lower than the left hemidiaphragm
C) At the same level as the left hemidiaphragm
D) Not visible

Answer: A) Higher than the left hemidiaphragm


12. What is the main feature of an air bronchogram on a chest X-ray?
A) Air-filled bronchi surrounded by opaque alveoli
B) Fluid-filled bronchi
C) Collapsed lung
D) Enlarged heart shadow

Answer: A) Air-filled bronchi surrounded by opaque alveoli


13. Which structure is seen as a linear opacity on a chest X-ray due to the presence of a foreign body?
A) Rib
B) Trachea
C) Esophagus
D) Heart

Answer: A) Rib


14. What is the typical radiographic appearance of an enlarged right ventricle on a chest X-ray?
A) Enlargement of the right heart border
B) Widened mediastinum
C) Elevated left hemidiaphragm
D) Increased lung markings

Answer: A) Enlargement of the right heart border


15. Which sign on a chest X-ray is indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A) Prominent vascular markings
B) Flattened diaphragm
C) Mediastinal shift
D) Air bronchograms

Answer: A) Prominent vascular markings


16. What is the characteristic radiographic feature of a pneumothorax?
A) Absence of vascular markings on one side
B) Elevated hemidiaphragm
C) Widened mediastinum
D) Increased lung opacity

Answer: A) Absence of vascular markings on one side


17. What radiographic finding is associated with atelectasis of the right upper lobe?
A) Elevation of the right hilum
B) Flattened diaphragm
C) Increased opacity in the left lung
D) Enlarged left atrium

Answer: A) Elevation of the right hilum


18. What does the presence of a widened mediastinum on a chest X-ray typically suggest?
A) Possible aortic dissection or large mass
B) Pneumonia
C) Pulmonary embolism
D) Diaphragmatic hernia

Answer: A) Possible aortic dissection or large mass


19. What is the classic radiographic sign of an endobronchial tumor?
A) Air bronchogram
B) Widened mediastinum
C) Elevated hemidiaphragm
D) Silhouette sign

Answer: A) Air bronchogram


20. How does the position of the heart shadow differ in a supine chest X-ray compared to an upright one?
A) Heart shadow appears more prominent and shifted
B) Heart shadow appears smaller
C) Heart shadow appears identical
D) Heart shadow is less defined

Answer: A) Heart shadow appears more prominent and shifted


21. What is the common radiographic feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A) Hyperinflation of the lungs
B) Pleural effusion
C) Silhouette sign
D) Kerley B lines

Answer: A) Hyperinflation of the lungs


22. In a chest X-ray, where is the left main bronchus typically positioned relative to the right main bronchus?
A) Higher and more horizontally oriented
B) Lower and more vertically oriented
C) At the same level
D) Posterior to the right main bronchus

Answer: A) Higher and more horizontally oriented


23. What radiographic sign is indicative of a large pleural effusion?
A) Blunting of the costophrenic angles
B) Hyperinflation of the lungs
C) Increased lung markings
D) Elevated hemidiaphragm

Answer: A) Blunting of the costophrenic angles


24. Which structure is best visualized with an anterior-posterior (AP) chest X-ray view?
A) Heart shadow
B) Diaphragm
C) Lung bases
D) Ribs

Answer: A) Heart shadow


25. What is the radiographic appearance of a tension pneumothorax?
A) Shift of mediastinum to the opposite side
B) Increased opacity of lung
C) Elevated hemidiaphragm
D) Loss of lung markings

Answer: A) Shift of mediastinum to the opposite side


26. How is the silhouette sign used to identify pathological changes?
A) By showing loss of normal borders between structures of similar radiographic density
B) Highlighting increased lung opacity
C) Demonstrating air-fluid levels
D) Identifying enlarged heart shadow

Answer: A) By showing loss of normal borders between structures of similar radiographic density


27. Which lung lobe is best visualized in a lateral chest X-ray view?
A) Right middle lobe
B) Left lower lobe
C) Right upper lobe
D) Left upper lobe

Answer: A) Right middle lobe


28. What radiographic feature is often associated with interstitial lung disease?
A) Reticular or nodular patterns
B) Hyperinflation
C) Pleural effusion
D) Pneumothorax

Answer: A) Reticular or nodular patterns


29. What is the most likely cause of an elevated left hemidiaphragm on a chest X-ray?
A) Phrenic nerve paralysis
B) Right-sided pleural effusion
C) Left lung collapse
D) Enlarged left atrium

Answer: A) Phrenic nerve paralysis


30. What does the “double bubble” sign indicate on a chest X-ray?
A) Possible duodenal atresia
B) Right-sided pleural effusion
C) Left lung collapse
D) Elevated diaphragm

Answer: A) Possible duodenal atresia


31. Which view is best for visualizing the apices of the lungs?
A) Lordotic view
B) Lateral view
C) Frontal view
D) Oblique view

Answer: A) Lordotic view


32. What is the significance of the “air crescent sign” on a chest X-ray?
A) Fungal infection
B) Pleural effusion
C) Lung abscess
D) Pneumonia

Answer: A) Fungal infection


33. In which condition is the “bat wing” appearance commonly observed on a chest X-ray?
A) Pulmonary edema
B) Pneumothorax
C) Pleural effusion
D) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Answer: A) Pulmonary edema


34. What does the “deep sulcus sign” suggest on a supine chest X-ray?
A) Presence of a pneumothorax
B) Heart failure
C) Pneumonia
D) Atelectasis

Answer: A) Presence of a pneumothorax


35. What is the radiographic feature of a right-sided diaphragm paralysis?
A) Elevated right hemidiaphragm
B) Flattened diaphragm
C) Blunting of costophrenic angles
D) Hyperinflation

Answer: A) Elevated right hemidiaphragm


36. What imaging modality is preferred for evaluating mediastinal masses?
A) X-ray
B) CT scan
C) MRI
D) Ultrasound

Answer: B) CT scan


37. What is the most common radiographic finding in acute bronchitis?
A) Peribronchial thickening
B) Pleural effusion
C) Air bronchograms
D) Hyperinflation

Answer: A) Peribronchial thickening


38. What does the “figure of 8” sign on a chest X-ray indicate?
A) Bilateral lymphadenopathy
B) Right-sided pleural effusion
C) Pneumonia
D) Diaphragmatic hernia

Answer: A) Bilateral lymphadenopathy


39. What does an “abnormal air-fluid level” suggest on a chest X-ray?
A) Presence of an abscess
B) Pleural effusion
C) Pneumothorax
D) Atelectasis

Answer: A) Presence of an abscess


40. Which structure is best seen in the lateral view of a chest X-ray?
A) Thoracic spine
B) Lung apices
C) Heart shadow
D) Costophrenic angles

Answer: A) Thoracic spine


41. What does the presence of “reticular pattern” on a chest X-ray commonly indicate?
A) Interstitial lung disease
B) Pneumothorax
C) Pleural effusion
D) Hyperinflation

Answer: A) Interstitial lung disease


42. How is an enlarged thymus gland typically seen on a chest X-ray?
A) Widened mediastinum
B) Elevated hemidiaphragm
C) Increased lung opacity
D) Blurred heart shadow

Answer: A) Widened mediastinum


43. What is the classic radiographic sign of a right upper lobe pneumonia?
A) Air bronchograms
B) Elevated right hemidiaphragm
C) Widened mediastinum
D) Blunting of costophrenic angles

Answer: A) Air bronchograms


44. What is the characteristic appearance of a pleural effusion on a chest X-ray?
A) Meniscus sign
B) Air bronchogram
C) Hyperinflation
D) Widened mediastinum

Answer: A) Meniscus sign


45. What is the radiographic feature of an anterior mediastinal mass?
A) Widened mediastinum
B) Elevated diaphragm
C) Increased lung markings
D) Silhouette sign

Answer: A) Widened mediastinum


46. What is typically seen on a chest X-ray of a patient with chronic bronchitis?
A) Increased bronchial markings
B) Pleural effusion
C) Hyperinflation
D) Pneumothorax

Answer: A) Increased bronchial markings


47. What does a “bent twig” appearance on a chest X-ray suggest?
A) Hyperinflation
B) Pleural effusion
C) Pneumonia
D) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Answer: A) Hyperinflation


48. What is the radiographic sign of aortic aneurysm on a chest X-ray?
A) Widened mediastinum
B) Elevated hemidiaphragm
C) Increased lung opacity
D) Blurred heart shadow

Answer: A) Widened mediastinum


49. What is the typical radiographic feature of a subcutaneous emphysema?
A) Air in soft tissues
B) Pleural effusion
C) Hyperinflation
D) Silhouette sign

Answer: A) Air in soft tissues


50. What does a “swiss cheese” appearance on a chest X-ray usually indicate?
A) Pulmonary cystic disease
B) Pneumothorax
C) Pleural effusion
D) Pulmonary edema

Answer: A) Pulmonary cystic disease