Otology: cholesteatoma: 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: cholesteatoma

Sample item

A patient has chronic foul-smelling otorrhea and a retraction pocket with keratin debris in the attic of the tympanic membrane. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cholesteatoma

Cholesteatoma is a destructive keratinizing lesion of the middle ear that can erode ossicles and adjacent bone. It requires ENT assessment and often surgical management.

Option by option

  • A. Meniere disease

    Meniere disease causes episodic vertigo and fluctuating hearing symptoms.

  • B. Acute otitis media

    Acute otitis media presents with acute pain and bulging membrane.

  • C. Cholesteatoma (correct)

    Correct. Attic retraction with keratin debris is typical.

  • D. Tympanosclerosis

    Tympanosclerosis causes white plaques and conductive loss but not keratin debris.

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, Cholesteatoma. Cholesteatoma is a destructive keratinizing lesion of the middle ear that can erode ossicles and adjacent bone.

Why is "Meniere disease" not the answer?

Meniere disease causes episodic vertigo and fluctuating hearing symptoms.

Why is "Acute otitis media" not the answer?

Acute otitis media presents with acute pain and bulging membrane.

Why is "Tympanosclerosis" not the answer?

Tympanosclerosis causes white plaques and conductive loss but not keratin debris.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Otology: cholesteatoma in ENT. It requires ENT assessment and often surgical management.

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 Otology: cholesteatoma?

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.