Larynx and airway: vascular ring: 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 · Larynx and airway: vascular ring

Sample item

A 6-month-old has biphasic stridor and noisy feeding. Barium swallow shows a posterior indentation of the oesophagus with bilateral tracheal compression on the frontal view. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Double aortic arch

A double aortic arch is a complete vascular ring that encircles the trachea and oesophagus, causing stridor and dysphagia and a posterior oesophageal indentation. A pulmonary artery sling indents the oesophagus anteriorly because the left pulmonary artery passes between trachea and oesophagus.

Option by option

  • A. Pulmonary artery sling

    A pulmonary artery sling produces an anterior oesophageal indentation.

  • B. Double aortic arch (correct)

    Correct. A complete ring compresses both structures and indents the oesophagus from behind.

  • C. Laryngomalacia

    Laryngomalacia is a laryngeal collapse with a normal barium swallow.

  • D. Subglottic haemangioma

    A subglottic haemangioma narrows the airway but does not indent the oesophagus.

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, Double aortic arch. A double aortic arch is a complete vascular ring that encircles the trachea and oesophagus, causing stridor and dysphagia and a posterior oesophageal indentation.

Why is "Pulmonary artery sling" not the answer?

A pulmonary artery sling produces an anterior oesophageal indentation.

Why is "Laryngomalacia" not the answer?

Laryngomalacia is a laryngeal collapse with a normal barium swallow.

Why is "Subglottic haemangioma" not the answer?

A subglottic haemangioma narrows the airway but does not indent the oesophagus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: vascular ring in ENT. A pulmonary artery sling indents the oesophagus anteriorly because the left pulmonary artery passes between trachea and oesophagus.

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 Larynx and airway: vascular ring?

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.