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NEET PG Radiology Syllabus

The Radiology syllabus for NEET PG in full: 10 chapters, 26 topics and 69 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Radiology flashcards with answers.

10Chapters
26Topics
69Sub-topics
51Flashcards

Radiology syllabus: all 10 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Introduction to Radiology

     2 topics
    • History of radiology
      • Evolution of imaging techniques and modalities
    • Basics of radiological physics
      • X-ray production
      • Interactions of X-rays with matter
      • Radiation safety

  2. Radiological Anatomy

     3 topics
    • Radiological anatomy of the chest
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the lungs
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the mediastinum
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the pleura
    • Radiological anatomy of the abdomen
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the liver
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the spleen
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the pancreas
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the kidneys
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the urinary tract
    • Radiological anatomy of the musculoskeletal system
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the bones
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the joints
      • Normal radiographic anatomy of the soft tissues

  3. Diagnostic Radiography

     3 topics
    • Chest Radiography
      • Technique
      • Positioning (Posteroanterior, Lateral, and Oblique Views)
      • Interpretation of Common Findings (Pneumonia, Pneumothorax, Pleural Effusion)
    • Abdominal Radiography
      • Technique
      • Positioning (Supine, Upright, and Decubitus Views)
      • Interpretation of Common Findings (Intestinal Obstruction, Bowel Perforation, Renal Calculi)
    • Skeletal Radiography
      • Technique
      • Positioning (Anteroposterior, Lateral, and Oblique Views)
      • Interpretation of Common Findings (Fractures, Dislocations, Osteoarthritis)

  4. Fluoroscopy

     2 topics
    • Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series
      • Technique
      • Indications
      • Interpretation of barium swallow studies for evaluation of esophageal and gastric pathology
    • Barium enema
      • Technique
      • Indications
      • Interpretation of barium enema studies for evaluation of colorectal pathology

  5. Computed Tomography (CT)

     3 topics
    • Principles of CT imaging
      • Generation of CT images
      • Contrast enhancement
      • Multiplanar reconstruction
    • CT of the head
      • Indications
      • Protocols (non-contrast, contrast-enhanced)
      • Interpretation of findings (intracranial hemorrhage, brain tumors, stroke)
    • CT of the chest and abdomen
      • Indications
      • Protocols (contrast-enhanced, multiphase)
      • Interpretation of findings (pulmonary embolism, solid organ injuries, abdominal masses)

  6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

     3 topics
    • Principles of MRI imaging
      • Generation of MRI images
      • Tissue contrast
      • Pulse sequences (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted)
    • MRI of the brain and spine
      • Indications
      • Protocols (with and without contrast)
      • Interpretation of findings (brain tumors, spinal cord compression, multiple sclerosis)
    • MRI of the musculoskeletal system
      • Indications
      • Protocols (with and without contrast)
      • Interpretation of findings (ligamentous injuries, soft tissue tumors, osteomyelitis)

  7. Ultrasound Imaging

     3 topics
    • Principles of ultrasound imaging
      • Generation of ultrasound images
      • Transducer types
      • Doppler imaging
    • Abdominal ultrasound
      • Indications
      • Techniques (transabdominal, transvaginal)
      • Interpretation of findings (liver cysts, gallstones, renal calculi)
    • Obstetric ultrasound
      • Indications
      • Techniques (transabdominal, transvaginal)
      • Interpretation of findings (fetal anatomy, placental abnormalities)

  8. Principles of nuclear medicine imaging

     3 topics
    • Radiopharmaceuticals
    • Gamma cameras
    • Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

  9. Interventional Radiology

     2 topics
    • Image-guided procedures
      • Percutaneous biopsies
      • Drainages
      • Catheter-based interventions
    • Minimally invasive therapies
      • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for tumor treatment
      • Microwave ablation for tumor treatment
      • Cryoablation for tumor treatment

  10. Radiation Oncology

     2 topics
    • Principles of radiation therapy
      • External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
      • Brachytherapy
      • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
    • Planning and delivery of radiation therapy
      • Treatment planning techniques (CT simulation, treatment planning software)
      • Radiation delivery methods (linear accelerators, gamma knife)

NEET PG Radiology flashcards — 51 questions with answers

  1. Who discovered X-rays, in what year, and what did he name the phenomenon?

    Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895; he called them 'X' rays because their nature was unknown. He received the first Nobel Prize in Physics (1901).

  2. What is the photoelectric effect in diagnostic radiology, and why is it important for image contrast?

    A photon is fully absorbed by ejecting an inner-shell electron. Its probability is proportional to Z³/E³, so it greatly increases contrast between tissues of different atomic number (e.g., bone vs soft tissue) and is the basis of bone/iodine/barium contrast.

  3. What is Compton scatter, and how does it affect a diagnostic radiograph?

    An incident photon ejects an outer-shell electron and is deflected (scattered) with reduced energy. It is the main interaction at higher diagnostic energies, is largely independent of atomic number, and degrades image contrast by adding noise/fog.

  4. In an X-ray tube, what do kVp and mAs each control?

    kVp (peak kilovoltage) controls the energy/penetrating power of the beam and thus contrast. mAs (milliampere-seconds) controls the quantity of photons produced and thus image density/exposure (and patient dose).

  5. What is the inverse square law in radiology and its formula?

    Radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source: I₁/I₂ = (d₂)²/(d₁)². Doubling the distance reduces intensity to one-quarter.

  6. List the five basic radiographic densities from most radiolucent (black) to most radiopaque (white).

    From black to white: air (gas), fat, soft tissue/water, bone (calcium), and metal/contrast media.

  7. What is a half-value layer (HVL)?

    The thickness of a specified material (commonly aluminium) required to reduce the intensity of an X-ray beam to one-half its original value. It is a measure of beam quality/penetration.

  8. On a normal frontal chest radiograph, what structures form the right and left mediastinal/heart borders?

    Right border (top to bottom): SVC and ascending aorta, then right atrium. Left border: aortic knob, main pulmonary artery, left atrial appendage, then left ventricle.

  9. What are the silhouette sign and its diagnostic value on a chest X-ray?

    Loss of a normal border between two structures of the same radiographic density indicates they are in contact/the same plane. E.g., loss of the right heart border localises disease to the right middle lobe; loss of the left heart border localises it to the lingula.

  10. How are the lung fissures (oblique/major and horizontal/minor) seen on a chest radiograph?

    The horizontal (minor) fissure is seen on the frontal view at about the level of the right 4th rib, separating right upper from middle lobe. The oblique (major) fissures are best seen on the lateral view, separating upper from lower lobes (and middle from lower on the right).

  11. On an abdominal radiograph, what are the normal upper limits of bowel diameter for small bowel, colon, and caecum (the 3-6-9 rule)?

    Small bowel up to 3 cm, colon up to 6 cm, and caecum up to 9 cm. Diameters above these suggest obstruction or dilatation.

  12. How do you distinguish small bowel from large bowel on a plain abdominal film?

    Small bowel is central, has valvulae conniventes (lines crossing the full lumen width), and is narrower. Large bowel is peripheral, has haustra (incomplete folds that do not cross the full width), is wider, and may contain faeces.

  13. What plain-film signs suggest pneumoperitoneum (free intraperitoneal air)?

    Air under the diaphragm on an erect chest/abdomen film, Rigler's sign (gas on both sides of the bowel wall), the football sign, and visualisation of the falciform ligament on a supine film.

  14. On a skeletal radiograph, what are the named regions of a long bone (proximal to articular surface)?

    Diaphysis (shaft), metaphysis (flared region near the end), physis (growth plate in children), and epiphysis (end, between physis and joint). The cortex is dense outer bone; the medulla contains trabecular bone/marrow.

  15. What is Wolff's law in skeletal radiology?

    Bone remodels in response to the mechanical stresses placed on it: bone is laid down where stress is high and resorbed where it is low. This explains trabecular orientation and stress-related bone changes.

  16. What standard projections make up a routine chest radiograph series, and which is preferred and why?

    PA (posteroanterior) erect at full inspiration is preferred because it minimises cardiac magnification (heart close to the detector) and shows lung detail well; a lateral view is added. AP/supine is used only when the patient cannot stand.

  17. How is rotation assessed on a frontal chest radiograph?

    The medial ends of both clavicles should be equidistant from the spinous process of the adjacent thoracic vertebra. Asymmetry indicates rotation, which can distort mediastinal width and cardiac silhouette.

  18. What counts as adequate inspiration on a PA chest radiograph?

    The diaphragm should lie at the level of the posterior 9th-10th rib or the anterior 5th-6th rib. Poor inspiration crowds vascular markings and falsely widens the heart.

  19. What is the standard projection for an erect abdominal radiograph and what is it best for?

    An erect AP abdominal film (or erect chest) demonstrates air-fluid levels in obstruction and free air under the diaphragm. The supine AP (KUB) film is the standard plain abdominal view for bowel gas pattern, masses, and calcifications.

  20. What is the Salter-Harris classification used for, and what does each type describe?

    It classifies physeal (growth-plate) fractures in children. I = through physis; II = physis + metaphysis (commonest); III = physis + epiphysis; IV = metaphysis + physis + epiphysis; V = crush of the physis. Mnemonic SALTR: Slipped, Above, Lower, Through, Rammed.

Show the other 31 Radiology flashcards

  1. In an upper GI (barium) series, what contrast agents are used and when is water-soluble contrast preferred over barium?

    Barium sulphate gives the best mucosal detail. A water-soluble agent (e.g., Gastrografin) is used when perforation is suspected, because extravasated barium causes severe peritonitis/mediastinitis.

  2. What is the double-contrast technique in a barium study and its advantage?

    It combines a positive contrast (barium coating the mucosa) with a negative contrast (gas/effervescent agent distending the lumen). This gives superior demonstration of fine mucosal detail (e.g., ulcers, early tumours) compared with single-contrast filling.

  3. What is a barium enema and the two main techniques?

    A fluoroscopic study of the colon via rectal barium. Single-contrast uses barium alone to outline the lumen (good for obstruction/large lesions); double-contrast adds air to coat the mucosa with thin barium, better for polyps and mucosal disease.

  4. Describe the classic barium-study signs of a chronic gastric/duodenal lesion: 'apple-core' and 'string sign'.

    The 'apple-core' (annular constricting) lesion is an irregular circumferential narrowing with shouldered margins, typical of an annular carcinoma. The 'string sign' is a thin barium thread through a markedly narrowed terminal ileum, classic for Crohn's disease.

  5. What physical principle underlies CT image formation, and what unit measures CT attenuation?

    A rotating X-ray tube and detectors acquire attenuation profiles from many angles, which are reconstructed (e.g., filtered back-projection / iterative reconstruction) into cross-sectional images. Attenuation is expressed in Hounsfield Units (HU).

  6. On the Hounsfield scale, what are the approximate HU values for water, air, fat, and dense cortical bone?

    Water = 0 HU (by definition), air = -1000 HU, fat ≈ -50 to -100 HU, and dense cortical bone ≈ +1000 HU (up to ~+2000). Soft tissue is roughly +20 to +70 HU.

  7. What do 'window width' and 'window level' control in CT display?

    Window level (centre) is the HU value displayed as mid-grey; window width is the range of HU values mapped from black to white. Narrow windows increase contrast over a small HU range (e.g., brain); wide windows show a broad range (e.g., lung, bone).

  8. Why is a non-contrast CT head the first-line investigation in acute stroke?

    It rapidly excludes haemorrhage (which appears hyperdense/bright) before thrombolysis, and may show early ischaemic signs (loss of grey-white differentiation, hyperdense vessel sign, sulcal effacement). Acute infarct itself becomes hypodense over hours.

  9. On a non-contrast CT head, how do acute blood, acute infarct, and CSF appear?

    Acute haemorrhage is hyperdense (bright, ~50-90 HU), acute infarction is hypodense (dark) with loss of grey-white differentiation, and CSF is hypodense (near water, ~0-15 HU).

  10. What are the standard intravenous contrast phases in CT of the abdomen and what is each best for?

    Arterial phase (~25-35 s) for vascular/hypervascular lesions (e.g., HCC); portal venous phase (~60-70 s) for liver parenchyma/most metastases and solid organs; delayed/excretory phase (several minutes) for the urinary collecting system and washout assessment.

  11. On what physical phenomenon is MRI based?

    Nuclear magnetic resonance of hydrogen protons: in a strong magnetic field protons align, a radiofrequency pulse tips them, and the signal emitted as they relax is spatially encoded by gradient coils to form the image.

  12. Define T1 and T2 relaxation in MRI.

    T1 (longitudinal/spin-lattice) relaxation is the recovery of longitudinal magnetisation along the main field. T2 (transverse/spin-spin) relaxation is the decay of transverse magnetisation due to spin dephasing. Different tissues differ in T1 and T2, giving contrast.

  13. How do fat and water/CSF appear on T1-weighted versus T2-weighted MRI?

    On T1: fat is bright, water/CSF is dark. On T2: water/CSF is bright, fat is intermediate-to-bright. Mnemonic: 'WW2' - Water is White on T2.

  14. What is the main MRI contrast agent, how does it work, and a key safety concern?

    Gadolinium-based chelates shorten T1, causing enhancement (bright on T1) of vascular/leaky tissues. A key risk is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severe renal impairment; gadolinium also crosses the placenta and is generally avoided in pregnancy.

  15. What is diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and its key role in brain MRI?

    DWI measures the random (Brownian) motion of water. Acute ischaemic stroke shows restricted diffusion: bright on DWI and dark on the ADC map, making it the most sensitive sequence for early infarction (positive within minutes).

  16. In MRI of the spine, what sequence best shows the cord and CSF, and how does a disc herniation appear?

    T2-weighted sagittal images show CSF bright, outlining the cord and any compression. A herniated/extruded disc appears as a focal protrusion of disc material indenting the thecal sac and compressing nerve roots or the cord.

  17. Why is MRI the modality of choice for musculoskeletal soft-tissue injury (e.g., menisci, ligaments)?

    MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast without ionising radiation, directly visualising cartilage, menisci, ligaments, tendons, marrow oedema (bright on fluid-sensitive/STIR sequences), and occult fractures not seen on plain film.

  18. What is the STIR sequence used for in MSK MRI?

    Short Tau Inversion Recovery is a fat-suppression technique that makes fluid/oedema conspicuously bright while nulling fat signal. It is highly sensitive for bone marrow oedema, occult fractures, infection, and tumours.

  19. On what physical principle does diagnostic ultrasound imaging work?

    A transducer emits high-frequency sound (~2-18 MHz) using the piezoelectric effect; echoes reflected at tissue interfaces (acoustic impedance differences) return to the transducer and are timed/processed into a real-time image. No ionising radiation.

  20. What is the trade-off between high- and low-frequency ultrasound transducers?

    Higher frequencies give better spatial resolution but less penetration (good for superficial structures, e.g., thyroid). Lower frequencies penetrate deeper but with lower resolution (good for abdominal/obstetric imaging).

  21. Define the ultrasound terms anechoic, hypoechoic, hyperechoic, and acoustic shadowing.

    Anechoic = no internal echoes/black (e.g., simple cyst, fluid). Hypoechoic = darker than surrounding tissue. Hyperechoic = brighter (e.g., gallstone, fat). Acoustic shadowing = dark band behind a strongly reflective/attenuating structure such as a stone or gas.

  22. What is the classic ultrasound appearance and key sign of acute cholecystitis?

    Gallbladder wall thickening (>3 mm), pericholecystic fluid, gallstones, and a positive sonographic Murphy's sign (maximal tenderness when the probe is over the gallbladder).

  23. What is the Doppler effect in ultrasound and its clinical use?

    A frequency shift of reflected sound caused by moving blood; the shift is proportional to flow velocity. It is used to assess blood flow direction and velocity (colour and spectral Doppler), e.g., carotid stenosis, DVT, fetal vessels.

  24. Why is ultrasound the modality of choice in obstetrics, and what is measured to date a pregnancy in the first trimester?

    It is real-time, widely available, and uses no ionising radiation (safe for the fetus). In the first trimester, the crown-rump length (CRL) is the most accurate measurement for dating gestational age.

  25. What is a radiopharmaceutical, and what is the most widely used radionuclide in nuclear medicine?

    A radiopharmaceutical is a radioactive isotope bound to a pharmaceutical carrier that targets a specific organ/process. Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is the most widely used, due to its ideal 140 keV gamma energy and ~6-hour half-life; it is eluted from a molybdenum-99 generator.

  26. How does a gamma camera (Anger camera) form an image?

    A collimator selects gamma photons travelling in a known direction; they strike a sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) scintillation crystal producing light, which photomultiplier tubes convert and localise into a 2D projection map of radiotracer distribution.

  27. How does SPECT differ from planar gamma-camera imaging?

    Single-Photon Emission CT rotates one or more gamma-camera heads around the patient to acquire multiple projections, then reconstructs tomographic (3D cross-sectional) images of tracer distribution, improving localisation and contrast over flat planar images.

  28. What is the Seldinger technique used in image-guided vascular procedures?

    A method of gaining vascular/cavity access: puncture with a needle, pass a guidewire through it, remove the needle, then advance a catheter/sheath over the wire into the vessel. It underlies most angiographic and interventional procedures.

  29. Name two minimally invasive image-guided therapies for tumours and how they work.

    Radiofrequency/microwave ablation uses image-guided needle electrodes to heat and coagulate tumour tissue. Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) delivers chemotherapy and embolic particles via a catheter into the tumour's feeding artery to cause ischaemia and local drug effect.

  30. What is the radiobiological rationale for fractionation in radiation therapy (the four R's)?

    Splitting the total dose into fractions exploits the four R's: Repair of sublethal damage (favours normal tissue), Reassortment/redistribution into radiosensitive cell-cycle phases, Repopulation, and Reoxygenation of hypoxic tumour cells (oxygen enhances radiosensitivity).

  31. What is the difference between external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy, and what imaging is used for treatment planning?

    External beam (teletherapy) delivers radiation from a distant source such as a linear accelerator; brachytherapy places sealed radioactive sources within or next to the tumour. CT (often fused with MRI/PET) is used to define target volumes and organs at risk for dose planning.

Same Radiology syllabus in other exams

The Radiology outline above is identical in these 3 exams:

NEET PG Radiology FAQ

What is in the NEET PG Radiology syllabus?

NEET PG Radiology is split into 10 chapters: Introduction to Radiology, Radiological Anatomy, Diagnostic Radiography, Fluoroscopy, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound Imaging, Principles of nuclear medicine imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Together they contain 26 topics and 69 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in NEET PG Radiology?

10 chapters, containing 26 topics and 69 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Radiological Anatomy, with 3 topics.

Are there flashcards for NEET PG Radiology?

Yes — a 51-card Radiology deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.