Ear and audiology: cortical mastoidectomy: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: cortical mastoidectomy

Sample item

A 5-year-old has acute coalescent mastoiditis with a subperiosteal abscess not responding to intravenous antibiotics. The surgeon removes mastoid air cells and keeps the posterior canal wall and ossicles intact. What is this procedure?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cortical (simple) mastoidectomy

In cortical mastoidectomy the cells are removed and the antrum is opened, but the canal wall and middle ear structures are preserved. It is done for acute coalescent mastoiditis. Radical operations remove the posterior canal wall and are used for cholesteatoma.

Option by option

  • A. Cortical (simple) mastoidectomy (correct)

    Correct. Cells are cleared and the ear structures are conserved.

  • B. Atticotomy

    Atticotomy limits surgery to the attic.

  • C. Radical mastoidectomy

    Radical mastoidectomy removes the drum remnant and ossicles and creates a cavity.

  • D. Modified radical mastoidectomy

    Modified radical keeps the drum and ossicular remnants but removes the canal wall.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Cortical (simple) mastoidectomy. In cortical mastoidectomy the cells are removed and the antrum is opened, but the canal wall and middle ear structures are preserved.

Why is "Atticotomy" not the answer?

Atticotomy limits surgery to the attic.

Why is "Radical mastoidectomy" not the answer?

Radical mastoidectomy removes the drum remnant and ossicles and creates a cavity.

Why is "Modified radical mastoidectomy" not the answer?

Modified radical keeps the drum and ossicular remnants but removes the canal wall.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: cortical mastoidectomy in ENT. It is done for acute coalescent mastoiditis. Radical operations remove the posterior canal wall and are used for cholesteatoma.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: cortical mastoidectomy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.