Complications: lateral sinus thrombosis: 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 · Complications: lateral sinus thrombosis

Sample item

A child with chronic ear disease has a swinging 'picket fence' fever and tender oedema over the posterior mastoid, due to thrombosis of the emissary vein. What is this sign called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Griesinger's sign

Griesinger's sign is oedema over the posterior mastoid from thrombosis of the mastoid emissary vein in lateral sinus thrombosis. The Tobey-Ayer test checks CSF pressure on jugular compression. Treatment is mastoidectomy, antibiotics and sometimes anticoagulation.

Option by option

  • A. Hennebert's sign

    Hennebert's sign is a positive fistula sign with an intact drum.

  • B. Gradenigo's sign

    Gradenigo's refers to the petrous apex syndrome.

  • C. Griesinger's sign (correct)

    Correct. Griesinger's sign marks emissary vein thrombosis.

  • D. Tobey-Ayer sign

    Tobey-Ayer is a manometric test, not mastoid oedema.

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, Griesinger's sign. Griesinger's sign is oedema over the posterior mastoid from thrombosis of the mastoid emissary vein in lateral sinus thrombosis.

Why is "Hennebert's sign" not the answer?

Hennebert's sign is a positive fistula sign with an intact drum.

Why is "Gradenigo's sign" not the answer?

Gradenigo's refers to the petrous apex syndrome.

Why is "Tobey-Ayer sign" not the answer?

Tobey-Ayer is a manometric test, not mastoid oedema.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications: lateral sinus thrombosis in ENT. The Tobey-Ayer test checks CSF pressure on jugular compression. Treatment is mastoidectomy, antibiotics and sometimes anticoagulation.

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 Complications: lateral sinus thrombosis?

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.