Image interpretation questions

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 26 Mar 2023

Image interpretation questions are one of the three types of multiple choice questions on Radiopaedia, the other two being basic factual and knowledge integration

Image interpretation questions are built entirely around an image. They should only be answerable through correct image interpretation, and not by only evaluating the text.

These are increasingly used in standardized radiology exams. 

The difference between an image interpretation question and a basic factual question which includes an image is primarily the complexity of the task. The former will usually require interpretation of the image in the context of additional textual information provided in the stem, whereas the latter will be merely an image and a lead-in (e.g. "What is the structure in blue?")

A 30-year-old man with a history of untreated HIV/AIDS presents with headaches and is assessed with the MRI shown. What is the most likely diagnosis? [Image from an MRI]

Images included in questions will come from one of two sources: 

  1. an image which is part of an existing case

  2. an image which has been uploaded specifically for the question

It is important that regardless of where the image is from, credit should be appropriately given. This will depend on the circumstances. In many instances, it should merely be the username and rID of the source case. If the image has been obtained from an existing case, but then annotated and re-uploaded to a case merely for the use of multiple choice questions (e.g. this case) the credit should be given to the original case. If the image has been obtained from another source (e.g. wikimedia commons) then credit should be given to the original author and any relevant license information included. 

Attribution should be included for every image. Once you have uploaded/added a pinned image you will be shown how the attribution will appear and prompted to add the rID or other attribution as needed.

If uploading images specifically for questions, please refer to image preparation for style guidance and template downloads. 

To use an existing image which is part of a case, simply pin it

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