Nose and paranasal sinuses: empty nose syndrome: 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 · Nose and paranasal sinuses: empty nose syndrome

Sample item

Two years after aggressive bilateral inferior turbinate resection, a man has a paradoxical sense of nasal blockage despite a wide airway, with dryness, crusting and a feeling of suffocation. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Empty nose syndrome

Empty nose syndrome follows excessive resection of turbinate tissue, which disturbs airflow sensing, humidification and mucosal cooling receptors, so the patient feels obstructed despite a patent airway. It is difficult to treat, with saline, moisturising and submucosal implants being tried. Prevention by conservative turbinate surgery is key.

Option by option

  • A. Atrophic rhinitis due to Klebsiella ozaenae

    Primary atrophic rhinitis is a progressive mucosal atrophy with foul crusts and not a sequel to surgery.

  • B. Nasal vestibulitis

    Vestibulitis is infection of the nasal vestibule with pain and crusting.

  • C. Empty nose syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Paradoxical obstruction after excessive turbinate resection characterises it.

  • D. Allergic rhinitis

    Allergic rhinitis causes sneezing and watery discharge with swollen turbinates.

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, Empty nose syndrome. Empty nose syndrome follows excessive resection of turbinate tissue, which disturbs airflow sensing, humidification and mucosal cooling receptors, so the patient feels obstructed despite a patent airway.

Why is "Atrophic rhinitis due to Klebsiella ozaenae" not the answer?

Primary atrophic rhinitis is a progressive mucosal atrophy with foul crusts and not a sequel to surgery.

Why is "Nasal vestibulitis" not the answer?

Vestibulitis is infection of the nasal vestibule with pain and crusting.

Why is "Allergic rhinitis" not the answer?

Allergic rhinitis causes sneezing and watery discharge with swollen turbinates.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: empty nose syndrome in ENT. It is difficult to treat, with saline, moisturising and submucosal implants being tried. Prevention by conservative turbinate surgery is key.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: empty nose syndrome?

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.