Head and neck cancer: 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 · Head and neck cancer

Sample item

A smoker has persistent unilateral throat pain, referred otalgia, weight loss, and a neck mass for six weeks. What is the appropriate action?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Urgent head-and-neck cancer assessment

Persistent unilateral throat symptoms with referred otalgia and neck mass are red flags for head and neck malignancy. Normal ear examination does not exclude referred otalgia from the pharynx or larynx.

Option by option

  • A. Start vestibular rehabilitation

    Vestibular rehabilitation treats balance disorders, not cancer red flags.

  • B. Urgent head-and-neck cancer assessment (correct)

    Correct. This pattern needs urgent specialist evaluation.

  • C. Treat with repeated short antibiotic courses only

    Repeated empiric antibiotics can delay cancer diagnosis.

  • D. Reassure because otoscopy is normal

    Referred ear pain may occur with normal otoscopy.

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 B, Urgent head-and-neck cancer assessment. Persistent unilateral throat symptoms with referred otalgia and neck mass are red flags for head and neck malignancy.

Why is "Start vestibular rehabilitation" not the answer?

Vestibular rehabilitation treats balance disorders, not cancer red flags.

Why is "Treat with repeated short antibiotic courses only" not the answer?

Repeated empiric antibiotics can delay cancer diagnosis.

Why is "Reassure because otoscopy is normal" not the answer?

Referred ear pain may occur with normal otoscopy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck cancer in ENT. Normal ear examination does not exclude referred otalgia from the pharynx or larynx.

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 cancer?

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.