Otology: malignant otitis externa: 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 · Otology: malignant otitis externa

Sample item

An older patient with diabetes has severe persistent otalgia, purulent otorrhea, and granulation tissue in the external canal. What complication must be considered?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Necrotizing otitis externa

Severe refractory otitis externa in a patient with diabetes or immunocompromise can represent necrotizing otitis externa with skull-base osteomyelitis. It needs urgent specialist assessment and antipseudomonal treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Simple cerumen impaction

    Cerumen impaction does not cause granulation tissue or severe infective pain.

  • B. Otosclerosis

    Otosclerosis is a noninfective ossicular disorder.

  • C. Necrotizing otitis externa (correct)

    Correct. Diabetes with disproportionate pain and granulation tissue is highly concerning.

  • D. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

    BPPV causes positional vertigo without otorrhea.

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 C, Necrotizing otitis externa. Severe refractory otitis externa in a patient with diabetes or immunocompromise can represent necrotizing otitis externa with skull-base osteomyelitis.

Why is "Simple cerumen impaction" not the answer?

Cerumen impaction does not cause granulation tissue or severe infective pain.

Why is "Otosclerosis" not the answer?

Otosclerosis is a noninfective ossicular disorder.

Why is "Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo" not the answer?

BPPV causes positional vertigo without otorrhea.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Otology: malignant otitis externa in ENT. It needs urgent specialist assessment and antipseudomonal treatment.

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 Otology: malignant otitis externa?

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.