FMGE 2018 - ENT Practice Questions

Q: A 15 years old Male presented with history of fever since 2 days, unable to swallow the food with muffled voice. On examination it is noted right tonsil is shifted to midline. What is the diagnosis:

Quincy. ***Quincy (Peritonsillar abscess)*** - This patient's presentation with **fever**, **dysphagia**, **muffled voice** (hot potato voice), and **tonsil shifted to the midline** is classic for a **peritonsillar abscess (Quincy)**. - The affected tonsil is pushed **medially toward the midline** by the collection of pus between the tonsillar capsule and the superior constrictor muscle. - The uvula is typically deviated to the **contralateral side**, and patients often have **trismus** and difficulty opening the mouth. - This is the **most common deep neck space infection** and typically follows acute tonsillitis. *Parapharyngeal abscess* - A **parapharyngeal abscess** would present with **severe trismus**, **neck swelling**, **torticollis**, and **bulging of the lateral pharyngeal wall**. - While it can push the tonsil medially, it more characteristically causes **anterolateral displacement** of the entire pharyngeal wall rather than isolated tonsillar displacement. - Patients typically have more pronounced **systemic toxicity** and **neck involvement** than seen with peritonsillar abscess. *Acute tonsillitis* - **Acute tonsillitis** presents with **bilateral tonsillar enlargement**, exudates, and pharyngeal erythema. - It does not cause **displacement of the tonsil to the midline** or significant **muffled voice**. - While fever and dysphagia are present, the physical examination finding of tonsillar shift indicates a suppurative complication (abscess formation). *Acute retropharyngeal abscess* - An **acute retropharyngeal abscess** occurs in the retropharyngeal space behind the posterior pharyngeal wall. - It presents with **neck stiffness**, **stridor**, **drooling**, **bulging of the posterior pharyngeal wall**, and **reluctance to extend the neck**. - It would **not cause visible displacement of the tonsil to the midline** as the abscess is in a different anatomical space. - More common in **young children** (under 5 years) than adolescents.

Q: A patient presented with 2 days history of fever. On examination there was a swelling in the neck and one side tonsil was pushed to midline. What is the most likely diagnosis:-

Quinsy. ***Quinsy (Peritonsillar abscess)*** - **Quinsy** is a **peritonsillar abscess** that presents with fever, severe throat pain, and the pathognomonic sign of **unilateral tonsil pushed toward the midline**. - The abscess forms in the **peritonsillar space** (between the tonsillar capsule and superior constrictor muscle), causing **medial displacement of the tonsil** and **bulging of the soft palate**. - Patients typically have **trismus, dysphagia, "hot potato voice"** and may have visible neck swelling. - This clinical presentation exactly matches the description: tonsil pushed to midline is the **classic finding for peritonsillar abscess**. *Parapharyngeal abscess* - A **parapharyngeal abscess** involves the deep parapharyngeal space lateral to the pharynx. - While it can cause neck swelling and fever, it typically causes **fullness and induration of the lateral pharyngeal wall** rather than prominent medial displacement of the tonsil itself. - The **tonsil is usually NOT pushed to the midline** in parapharyngeal abscess; instead, there is lateral pharyngeal wall bulging. - Often presents with more prominent external neck swelling below the angle of mandible. *Retropharyngeal abscess* - A **retropharyngeal abscess** occurs in the retropharyngeal space behind the posterior pharyngeal wall. - Presents with **posterior pharyngeal wall bulge**, neck stiffness, and dysphagia. - Does **NOT cause medial displacement of the tonsil** as the abscess is posterior, not lateral to the tonsil. *Tonsillitis* - **Acute tonsillitis** causes bilateral tonsillar inflammation with erythema and exudates. - While both tonsils may be enlarged, there is **no unilateral medial displacement** of one tonsil. - Less likely to cause significant neck swelling compared to deep space infections.

Q: Dip at 4000 Hz in pure tone audiometry indicates:

Noise induced hearing loss. ***Noise induced hearing loss*** - A characteristic **"4 kHz Notch"** or dip in the audiogram is a hallmark of **noise-induced hearing loss**, resulting from damage to the **cochlear hair cells** in this frequency range. - This specific frequency is most susceptible to damage from loud noise exposure due to the physical properties of the **basilar membrane**. *Meniere's disease* - Typically presents with **low-frequency hearing loss**, often fluctuating, along with **tinnitus**, **vertigo**, and a feeling of **aural fullness**. - A dip at 4000 Hz is not a characteristic audiometric finding for **Meniere's disease**. *Age related hearing loss* - Also known as **presbycusis**, it is typically a **symmetrical, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss** that primarily affects **higher frequencies**, but it usually presents as a more gradual slope rather than a sharp dip at a specific frequency like 4 kHz. - While high frequencies are affected, the pattern is usually a broader high-frequency loss, not an isolated notch. *Otosclerosis* - This condition is a form of **conductive hearing loss** (though it can have a sensorineural component in advanced stages) due to abnormal bone growth around the **stapes footplate**. - Its classic audiometric finding is a **Carhart notch** around 2000 Hz, with a conductive hearing loss pattern, rather than a sensorineural dip at 4000 Hz.

Q: 35 years old female presents with tinnitus, vertigo and aural fullness. Likely diagnosis:

Meniere's Disease. ***Meniere's Disease*** - The classic triad of symptoms for Meniere's disease includes **tinnitus**, **vertigo**, and **aural fullness**, along with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss. - This condition is thought to be caused by an excess of **endolymphatic fluid** within the inner ear. *Ototoxicity* - This condition typically presents with **bilateral, symmetrical hearing loss** and tinnitus, often induced by certain medications (e.g., aminoglycosides, aspirin in high doses). - It usually does not involve episodic vertigo or aural fullness, which are characteristic of Meniere's. *Noise Induced Hearing Loss* - Characterized primarily by **permanent sensorineural hearing loss**, often at specific frequencies (e.g., 4000 Hz notch), and **tinnitus** after prolonged exposure to loud noise. - It does not typically cause the episodic vertigo or sense of aural fullness seen in Meniere's disease. *Otosclerosis* - This condition causes **progressive conductive hearing loss** due to abnormal bone growth around the stapes bone, impairing its movement. - While it can cause tinnitus, it typically does not present with vertigo or aural fullness, and the primary hearing loss is conductive, not sensorineural.

Q: Mainstay of treatment of glue ear -

Myringotomy + aeration to middle ear. ***Myringotomy + aeration to middle ear*** - **Myringotomy** involves creating a small incision in the eardrum to drain fluid, and inserting a **grommet (ventilation tube)** to aerate the middle ear, which is the primary treatment for persistent glue ear (otitis media with effusion). - This procedure aims to restore ventilation to the middle ear, allowing trapped fluid to drain and preventing recurrent fluid accumulation, which improves hearing. *Temporal bone resection* - This is a major surgical procedure involving the removal of part of the temporal bone, typically reserved for extensive **malignant tumors** or severe infections, and is not indicated for glue ear. - It carries significant risks and is disproportionate to the treatment of a benign condition like glue ear. *Tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy* - While **adenoidectomy** can sometimes be performed in conjunction with grommet insertion if enlarged adenoids contribute to eustachian tube dysfunction, it is not the **primary treatment** for glue ear itself. - **Tonsillectomy** is generally performed for recurrent tonsillitis and has no direct role in treating glue ear. *Radical Mastoidectomy* - This is a highly invasive surgical procedure involving the removal of the mastoid air cells and part of the external auditory canal, typically performed for severe **cholesteatoma** or chronic mastoiditis. - It is an extensive and risky operation that is not appropriate for the management of glue ear, which is a much milder condition.

Question 1

A 15 years old Male presented with history of fever since 2 days, unable to swallow the food with muffled voice. On examination it is noted right tonsil is shifted to midline. What is the diagnosis:

Accepted Answer

Quincy

Answer

Acute tonsillitis

Answer

Parapharyngeal abscess

Answer

Acute retropharyngeal abscess

Question 2

A patient presented with 2 days history of fever. On examination there was a swelling in the neck and one side tonsil was pushed to midline. What is the most likely diagnosis:-

Accepted Answer

Quinsy

Answer

Retropharyngeal abscess

Answer

Parapharyngeal abscess

Answer

Tonsillitis

Question 3

Dip at 4000 Hz in pure tone audiometry indicates:

Accepted Answer

Noise induced hearing loss

Answer

Meniere's disease

Answer

Age related hearing loss

Answer

Otosclerosis

Question 4

35 years old female presents with tinnitus, vertigo and aural fullness. Likely diagnosis:

Accepted Answer

Meniere's Disease

Answer

Ototoxicity

Answer

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Answer

Otosclerosis

Question 5

Mainstay of treatment of glue ear -

Accepted Answer

Myringotomy + aeration to middle ear

Answer

Temporal bone resection

Answer

Tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy

Answer

Radical Mastoidectomy

FMGE 2018 — ENT