Neck: carotid body tumour: 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 · Neck: carotid body tumour

Sample item

A 40-year-old has a painless pulsatile mass at the carotid bifurcation that can be moved side to side but not up and down. Angiography is expected to show what?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Splaying of the internal and external carotid arteries (lyre sign)

A carotid body tumour (chemodectoma) lies in the carotid bifurcation and splays the internal and external carotid arteries, giving the lyre sign. Fontaine's sign is mobility in the horizontal but not vertical direction. Biopsy is avoided.

Option by option

  • A. Narrowing of the common carotid artery

    Carotid stenosis is unrelated.

  • B. Normal vessels

    Angiography shows a vascular blush with splaying.

  • C. A dilated vertebral artery

    The vertebral artery is not involved.

  • D. Splaying of the internal and external carotid arteries (lyre sign) (correct)

    Correct. Splaying of the bifurcation is the lyre sign.

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 D, Splaying of the internal and external carotid arteries (lyre sign). A carotid body tumour (chemodectoma) lies in the carotid bifurcation and splays the internal and external carotid arteries, giving the lyre sign.

Why is "Narrowing of the common carotid artery" not the answer?

Carotid stenosis is unrelated.

Why is "Normal vessels" not the answer?

Angiography shows a vascular blush with splaying.

Why is "A dilated vertebral artery" not the answer?

The vertebral artery is not involved.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neck: carotid body tumour in ENT. Fontaine's sign is mobility in the horizontal but not vertical direction. Biopsy is avoided.

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 Neck: carotid body tumour?

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.