Diagnostic Imaging Flashcards
6 cards from real Mesothelioma Diagnosis practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Diagnostic Imaging flashcards as text
Which radiologic sign on chest X-ray suggests mesothelioma has encased and contracted the affected hemithorax?
Answer: Ipsilateral volume loss with pleural thickening
Mesothelioma often causes ipsilateral volume loss because the tumor encases and constricts the lung, rather than pushing the mediastinum to the opposite side.
CT-guided core needle biopsy of a pleural mass in suspected mesothelioma is preferred over fine needle aspiration (FNA) because:
Answer: It provides tissue architecture needed for subtyping
Core needle biopsy preserves tissue architecture, which is essential for immunohistochemical subtyping (epithelioid vs. sarcomatoid) of mesothelioma.
Which nuclear medicine finding on PET scan is associated with higher-grade or sarcomatoid mesothelioma?
Answer: High SUV (standardized uptake value)
High FDG uptake (high SUV) on PET correlates with more aggressive tumor biology, including sarcomatoid differentiation and worse prognosis.
Pleural plaques seen on CT are important in mesothelioma diagnosis because they indicate:
Answer: Prior asbestos exposure
Calcified pleural plaques are a marker of prior asbestos exposure and, while benign themselves, raise suspicion for asbestos-related malignancy.
In peritoneal mesothelioma, which CT feature best predicts completeness of cytoreductive surgery?
Answer: Peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score
A low PCI score on preoperative CT predicts that complete cytoreduction is achievable, which is the strongest predictor of long-term survival.
Which imaging finding would most likely prompt a change from surgical to palliative management in pleural mesothelioma?
Answer: Mediastinal lymph node involvement on PET/CT
Mediastinal nodal involvement (N2 disease) indicates unresectable disease in most staging systems, often redirecting management toward palliative intent.