Head and neck tumours: biopsy of a parotid lump: 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 · Head and neck tumours: biopsy of a parotid lump

Sample item

Why is incisional biopsy avoided in a suspected pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Risk of tumour spillage, seeding and facial nerve injury

Cutting into a pleomorphic adenoma risks spillage of tumour cells into the wound, with later multifocal recurrence, and the facial nerve may be injured in a blind biopsy. Fine-needle aspiration and imaging are used instead, and the definitive operation is a superficial parotidectomy.

Option by option

  • A. Risk of tumour spillage, seeding and facial nerve injury (correct)

    Correct. Spillage and seeding cause recurrence and the facial nerve is at risk.

  • B. It cannot yield enough tissue for histology

    Incisional biopsy yields tissue, but the objection is seeding and nerve damage.

  • C. It causes sialocele formation in every case

    A salivary fistula can follow but not in every case, and it is not the main reason.

  • D. It always converts the tumour to a carcinoma

    Biopsy does not transform a benign tumour into a carcinoma.

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, Risk of tumour spillage, seeding and facial nerve injury. Cutting into a pleomorphic adenoma risks spillage of tumour cells into the wound, with later multifocal recurrence, and the facial nerve may be injured in a blind biopsy.

Why is "It cannot yield enough tissue for histology" not the answer?

Incisional biopsy yields tissue, but the objection is seeding and nerve damage.

Why is "It causes sialocele formation in every case" not the answer?

A salivary fistula can follow but not in every case, and it is not the main reason.

Why is "It always converts the tumour to a carcinoma" not the answer?

Biopsy does not transform a benign tumour into a carcinoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck tumours: biopsy of a parotid lump in ENT. Fine-needle aspiration and imaging are used instead, and the definitive operation is a superficial parotidectomy.

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 Head and neck tumours: biopsy of a parotid lump?

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.