Hand: glomus tumour: practice question

A Orthopaedics 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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Orthopaedics · Hand: glomus tumour

Sample item

A woman has years of severe pain under the fingernail triggered by cold and light touch, with a small bluish spot under the nail. Which diagnosis and treatment are appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Glomus tumour, treated by surgical excision

Glomus tumour is a benign vascular tumour of the glomus body in the nail bed, presenting with intense localised pain, cold sensitivity and a bluish discolouration. Love pin test and MRI support the diagnosis. Complete excision relieves the pain.

Option by option

  • A. Glomus tumour, treated by surgical excision (correct)

    Correct. Cold-sensitive subungual pain with a blue spot indicates a glomus tumour.

  • B. Subungual exostosis, treated with antibiotics

    A subungual exostosis is a bony lump and not cold sensitive.

  • C. Felon, treated by splinting

    A felon is an acute pulp infection.

  • D. Mucous cyst, treated by observation

    A mucous cyst lies over the distal interphalangeal joint and is not painful in this way.

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 Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Glomus tumour, treated by surgical excision. Glomus tumour is a benign vascular tumour of the glomus body in the nail bed, presenting with intense localised pain, cold sensitivity and a bluish discolouration.

Why is "Subungual exostosis, treated with antibiotics" not the answer?

A subungual exostosis is a bony lump and not cold sensitive.

Why is "Felon, treated by splinting" not the answer?

A felon is an acute pulp infection.

Why is "Mucous cyst, treated by observation" not the answer?

A mucous cyst lies over the distal interphalangeal joint and is not painful in this way.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hand: glomus tumour in Orthopaedics. Love pin test and MRI support the diagnosis. Complete excision relieves the pain.

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 Hand: glomus tumour?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics 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.