Head and neck tumours: chyle leak: 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 · Head and neck tumours: chyle leak

Sample item

On the second day after left radical neck dissection, a milky fluid with high triglyceride content collects in the drain. What is the cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Injury to the thoracic duct

The thoracic duct enters the junction of the left internal jugular and subclavian veins, so a chyle leak complicates left-sided dissection of the lower neck. Conservative management with a low-fat diet, medium-chain triglycerides and pressure is tried first. High output may need surgical ligation.

Option by option

  • A. Injury to the thoracic duct (correct)

    Correct. The thoracic duct carries chyle.

  • B. Injury to the vagus nerve

    Vagal injury causes hoarseness.

  • C. Injury to the phrenic nerve

    Phrenic injury causes diaphragmatic paralysis.

  • D. Injury to the external jugular vein

    A venous injury gives blood.

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 A, Injury to the thoracic duct. The thoracic duct enters the junction of the left internal jugular and subclavian veins, so a chyle leak complicates left-sided dissection of the lower neck.

Why is "Injury to the vagus nerve" not the answer?

Vagal injury causes hoarseness.

Why is "Injury to the phrenic nerve" not the answer?

Phrenic injury causes diaphragmatic paralysis.

Why is "Injury to the external jugular vein" not the answer?

A venous injury gives blood.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck tumours: chyle leak in ENT. Conservative management with a low-fat diet, medium-chain triglycerides and pressure is tried first. High output may need surgical ligation.

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 Head and neck tumours: chyle leak?

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.