Nose and paranasal sinuses: hardwood dust adenocarcinoma: 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 · Nose and paranasal sinuses: hardwood dust adenocarcinoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old carpenter who has worked with hardwood for decades develops unilateral nasal obstruction and bloody discharge. Which tumour is he at increased risk of?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid sinus

Occupational exposure to hardwood dust, such as oak and beech, and also leather dust is linked to sinonasal adenocarcinoma, most commonly in the ethmoid region. Nickel exposure is linked with squamous carcinoma. Unilateral blood-stained discharge should always prompt endoscopy.

Option by option

  • A. Squamous carcinoma of the maxillary antrum

    Squamous carcinoma is the commonest overall but is not specific to wood dust.

  • B. Olfactory groove meningioma

    Meningioma is not occupational.

  • C. Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid sinus (correct)

    Correct. Hardwood dust is linked to ethmoid adenocarcinoma.

  • D. Juvenile angiofibroma

    Angiofibroma occurs in adolescent males.

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.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid sinus. Occupational exposure to hardwood dust, such as oak and beech, and also leather dust is linked to sinonasal adenocarcinoma, most commonly in the ethmoid region.

Why is "Squamous carcinoma of the maxillary antrum" not the answer?

Squamous carcinoma is the commonest overall but is not specific to wood dust.

Why is "Olfactory groove meningioma" not the answer?

Meningioma is not occupational.

Why is "Juvenile angiofibroma" not the answer?

Angiofibroma occurs in adolescent males.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: hardwood dust adenocarcinoma in ENT. Nickel exposure is linked with squamous carcinoma. Unilateral blood-stained discharge should always prompt endoscopy.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: hardwood dust adenocarcinoma?

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.