Oesophagus: Schatzki ring: 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 · Oesophagus: Schatzki ring

Sample item

A 50-year-old has intermittent dysphagia for solids only, particularly with meat, with no weight loss. Barium swallow shows a thin ring at the lower oesophagus at the squamocolumnar junction. What is this lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Schatzki (lower oesophageal B) ring, treated by dilatation

A Schatzki ring is a mucosal ring at the squamocolumnar junction that causes intermittent solid food dysphagia (steakhouse syndrome). Bougie dilatation and acid suppression give relief. A cricopharyngeal bar and Zenker diverticulum are at the pharyngo-oesophageal junction.

Option by option

  • A. Plummer-Vinson web

    A Plummer-Vinson web is in the post-cricoid area with iron deficiency.

  • B. Cricopharyngeal bar

    A cricopharyngeal bar lies in the upper oesophagus.

  • C. Schatzki (lower oesophageal B) ring, treated by dilatation (correct)

    Correct. A ring at the lower end with intermittent solid dysphagia is typical.

  • D. Zenker diverticulum

    Zenker diverticulum lies in the hypopharynx.

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 C, Schatzki (lower oesophageal B) ring, treated by dilatation. A Schatzki ring is a mucosal ring at the squamocolumnar junction that causes intermittent solid food dysphagia (steakhouse syndrome).

Why is "Plummer-Vinson web" not the answer?

A Plummer-Vinson web is in the post-cricoid area with iron deficiency.

Why is "Cricopharyngeal bar" not the answer?

A cricopharyngeal bar lies in the upper oesophagus.

Why is "Zenker diverticulum" not the answer?

Zenker diverticulum lies in the hypopharynx.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oesophagus: Schatzki ring in ENT. Bougie dilatation and acid suppression give relief. A cricopharyngeal bar and Zenker diverticulum are at the pharyngo-oesophageal junction.

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 Oesophagus: Schatzki ring?

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.