Larynx and airway: supracricoid laryngectomy: 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 · Larynx and airway: supracricoid laryngectomy

Sample item

A 58-year-old man has a T2 supraglottic carcinoma. The surgeon removes both true and false cords and the thyroid cartilage but preserves the cricoid and at least one arytenoid, and joins the cricoid to the hyoid. What operation is this?

ASupracricoid partial laryngectomyBVertical hemilaryngectomyCCordectomyDTotal laryngectomy

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Supracricoid partial laryngectomy

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy removes the supraglottis and glottis with the thyroid cartilage, keeping the cricoid and one arytenoid, and reconstructs by cricohyoidopexy. It preserves speech and swallowing for selected tumours. It is a larynx preservation option.

Option by option

A. Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (correct)
Correct. Cricohyoidopexy completes the reconstruction.
B. Vertical hemilaryngectomy
A vertical hemilaryngectomy removes one half of the larynx in the vertical plane.
C. Cordectomy
Cordectomy removes only part of a vocal cord.
D. Total laryngectomy
Total laryngectomy removes the whole larynx.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Supracricoid partial laryngectomy. Supracricoid partial laryngectomy removes the supraglottis and glottis with the thyroid cartilage, keeping the cricoid and one arytenoid, and reconstructs by cricohyoidopexy.

Why is "Vertical hemilaryngectomy" not the answer?

A vertical hemilaryngectomy removes one half of the larynx in the vertical plane.

Why is "Cordectomy" not the answer?

Cordectomy removes only part of a vocal cord.

Why is "Total laryngectomy" not the answer?

Total laryngectomy removes the whole larynx.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: supracricoid laryngectomy in ENT. It preserves speech and swallowing for selected tumours. It is a larynx preservation option.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Larynx and airway: supracricoid laryngectomy?

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.