Head and neck: nasopharyngeal carcinoma: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Head and neck: nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Sample item

A 35-year-old has a painless upper neck lymph node, unilateral hearing loss from serous otitis media, and epistaxis. Which virus is linked with the suspected tumour?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Epstein-Barr virus

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is linked to EBV, especially the non-keratinising type, and arises in the fossa of Rosenmuller. Unilateral serous otitis in an adult should prompt nasopharyngeal examination. Treatment is radiotherapy, with chemotherapy for advanced disease.

Option by option

  • A. Human papillomavirus type 6

    HPV 6 is linked to laryngeal papillomas.

  • B. Epstein-Barr virus (correct)

    Correct. EBV is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

  • C. Cytomegalovirus

    CMV is not linked to this cancer.

  • D. Hepatitis B virus

    Hepatitis B is linked to hepatocellular 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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Epstein-Barr virus. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is linked to EBV, especially the non-keratinising type, and arises in the fossa of Rosenmuller.

Why is "Human papillomavirus type 6" not the answer?

HPV 6 is linked to laryngeal papillomas.

Why is "Cytomegalovirus" not the answer?

CMV is not linked to this cancer.

Why is "Hepatitis B virus" not the answer?

Hepatitis B is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: nasopharyngeal carcinoma in General Surgery. Unilateral serous otitis in an adult should prompt nasopharyngeal examination. Treatment is radiotherapy, with chemotherapy for advanced disease.

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 carcinoma?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.