Oral medicine and oral cancer: Eagle syndrome: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: Eagle syndrome

Sample item

A 45-year-old man has unilateral throat pain on swallowing and turning his head, with a foreign body sensation in the throat. A panoramic radiograph shows a long thin radiopaque process descending behind the ramus. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Eagle syndrome from an elongated styloid process

Eagle syndrome is pain from an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament, which irritates adjacent nerves. It causes throat pain on swallowing, referred ear pain and a foreign body sensation. Treatment is analgesia or surgical shortening of the process.

Option by option

  • A. Eagle syndrome from an elongated styloid process (correct)

    Correct. A long styloid process with pain on swallowing and head turning fits Eagle syndrome.

  • B. Sialolithiasis of the parotid duct

    A parotid stone gives swelling with meals and is seen as a radiopacity in the cheek, not behind the ramus.

  • C. Trigeminal neuralgia

    Trigeminal neuralgia shows trigger-zone shocks and no radiographic radiopaque process.

  • D. Temporomandibular joint dislocation

    A joint dislocation causes an open lock and inability to close the mouth.

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 Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is A, Eagle syndrome from an elongated styloid process. Eagle syndrome is pain from an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament, which irritates adjacent nerves.

Why is "Sialolithiasis of the parotid duct" not the answer?

A parotid stone gives swelling with meals and is seen as a radiopacity in the cheek, not behind the ramus.

Why is "Trigeminal neuralgia" not the answer?

Trigeminal neuralgia shows trigger-zone shocks and no radiographic radiopaque process.

Why is "Temporomandibular joint dislocation" not the answer?

A joint dislocation causes an open lock and inability to close the mouth.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: Eagle syndrome in Dentistry. It causes throat pain on swallowing, referred ear pain and a foreign body sensation. Treatment is analgesia or surgical shortening of the process.

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 Oral medicine and oral cancer: Eagle syndrome?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.