Head and neck: nasopharyngeal primary: 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 · Head and neck: nasopharyngeal primary

Sample item

A young adult from northeast India has an enlarged posterior triangle node with metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma. Which primary site should be examined first?

AFloor of mouthBGlottisCThyroidDNasopharynx

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Nasopharynx

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma frequently presents with upper posterior cervical nodes (level II and V) and is common in certain regions of northeast India. Endoscopy of the fossa of Rosenmuller and biopsy are indicated.

Option by option

A. Floor of mouth
Floor of mouth cancers drain to levels I and II.
B. Glottis
Glottic cancers rarely metastasise early.
C. Thyroid
Thyroid cancers do not usually show undifferentiated squamous cells.
D. Nasopharynx (correct)
Correct. Posterior triangle nodes suggest a nasopharyngeal primary.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Nasopharynx. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma frequently presents with upper posterior cervical nodes (level II and V) and is common in certain regions of northeast India.

Why is "Floor of mouth" not the answer?

Floor of mouth cancers drain to levels I and II.

Why is "Glottis" not the answer?

Glottic cancers rarely metastasise early.

Why is "Thyroid" not the answer?

Thyroid cancers do not usually show undifferentiated squamous cells.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: nasopharyngeal primary in ENT. Endoscopy of the fossa of Rosenmuller and biopsy are indicated.

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: nasopharyngeal primary?

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.