Salivary gland tumours: 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 · Salivary gland tumours

Sample item

An elderly male smoker has a slowly growing, soft, cystic swelling at the lower pole of the parotid, and a similar swelling is developing on the other side. A technetium scan shows increased uptake in the swelling. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Warthin's tumour

Warthin's tumour (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) is seen in older male smokers, lies in the tail of the parotid, may be bilateral or multifocal, and takes up technetium pertechnetate because of its oncocytic epithelium. Pleomorphic adenoma is the commonest salivary tumour overall but is firm and rarely bilateral.

Option by option

  • A. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

    Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a malignant tumour that is infiltrative, and it is not typically cystic and bilateral.

  • B. Adenoid cystic carcinoma

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma is notorious for perineural spread and pain, and is not bilateral.

  • C. Pleomorphic adenoma

    Pleomorphic adenoma is a firm, lobulated mass in a younger woman, and it shows no technetium uptake.

  • D. Warthin's tumour (correct)

    Correct. The features are classic of this benign oncocytic tumour.

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 D, Warthin's tumour. Warthin's tumour (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) is seen in older male smokers, lies in the tail of the parotid, may be bilateral or multifocal, and takes up technetium pertechnetate because of its oncocytic epithelium.

Why is "Mucoepidermoid carcinoma" not the answer?

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a malignant tumour that is infiltrative, and it is not typically cystic and bilateral.

Why is "Adenoid cystic carcinoma" not the answer?

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is notorious for perineural spread and pain, and is not bilateral.

Why is "Pleomorphic adenoma" not the answer?

Pleomorphic adenoma is a firm, lobulated mass in a younger woman, and it shows no technetium uptake.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Salivary gland tumours in ENT. Pleomorphic adenoma is the commonest salivary tumour overall but is firm and rarely bilateral.

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 Salivary gland tumours?

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.