Ear and audiology: cerebellopontine angle meningioma: 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.

Try it

ENT · Ear and audiology: cerebellopontine angle meningioma

Sample item

MRI of an adult with unilateral hearing loss shows a cerebellopontine angle mass with a broad dural base, an enhancing dural tail and adjacent bone thickening. The internal acoustic canal is not widened. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Meningioma

A meningioma arises from the dura, so it has a broad dural attachment, a dural tail, calcification and hyperostosis, and it centres away from the internal acoustic canal. Vestibular schwannoma arises within the canal, widens it and forms an acute angle with the petrous bone. Epidermoid cysts show restricted diffusion without enhancement.

Option by option

  • A. Meningioma (correct)

    Correct. Dural tail, broad base and hyperostosis point to meningioma.

  • B. Glomus jugulare tumour

    A glomus tumour arises at the jugular foramen with a salt-and-pepper pattern.

  • C. Epidermoid cyst

    An epidermoid cyst does not enhance and shows restricted diffusion.

  • D. Vestibular schwannoma

    A schwannoma enlarges the canal and meets the bone at an acute angle.

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 A, Meningioma. A meningioma arises from the dura, so it has a broad dural attachment, a dural tail, calcification and hyperostosis, and it centres away from the internal acoustic canal.

Why is "Glomus jugulare tumour" not the answer?

A glomus tumour arises at the jugular foramen with a salt-and-pepper pattern.

Why is "Epidermoid cyst" not the answer?

An epidermoid cyst does not enhance and shows restricted diffusion.

Why is "Vestibular schwannoma" not the answer?

A schwannoma enlarges the canal and meets the bone at an acute angle.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: cerebellopontine angle meningioma in ENT. Vestibular schwannoma arises within the canal, widens it and forms an acute angle with the petrous bone. Epidermoid cysts show restricted diffusion without enhancement.

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 Ear and audiology: cerebellopontine angle meningioma?

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.