Head and neck imaging: paranasal sinus mucocele: practice question

A Radiology 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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Radiology · Head and neck imaging: paranasal sinus mucocele

Sample item

A woman has frontal headache and displacement of the eye downwards. CT shows an opacified, expanded frontal sinus with thinned and remodelled bony walls and no air. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Frontal sinus mucocele

A mucocele is an obstructed, mucus-filled sinus that slowly expands and remodels bone. Ostial obstruction and prior surgery or trauma are risk factors. Acute sinusitis shows air-fluid levels without expansion.

Option by option

  • A. Osteoma

    An osteoma is a dense bony lesion.

  • B. Inverted papilloma

    Inverted papilloma arises in the nasal cavity and lateral wall.

  • C. Frontal sinus mucocele (correct)

    Correct. An expanded airless sinus with thinned walls is a mucocele.

  • D. Acute sinusitis

    Acute sinusitis does not expand the sinus.

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 Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Frontal sinus mucocele. A mucocele is an obstructed, mucus-filled sinus that slowly expands and remodels bone.

Why is "Osteoma" not the answer?

An osteoma is a dense bony lesion.

Why is "Inverted papilloma" not the answer?

Inverted papilloma arises in the nasal cavity and lateral wall.

Why is "Acute sinusitis" not the answer?

Acute sinusitis does not expand the sinus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck imaging: paranasal sinus mucocele in Radiology. Ostial obstruction and prior surgery or trauma are risk factors. Acute sinusitis shows air-fluid levels without expansion.

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 Head and neck imaging: paranasal sinus mucocele?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology 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.