Paediatric surgery: sternomastoid tumour: 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 · Paediatric surgery: sternomastoid tumour

Sample item

A 3-week-old infant has a firm, non-tender, olive-shaped lump in the neck and head tilt toward the side of the lump with the chin turned to the opposite side. What is the initial management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Passive stretching exercises

A sternomastoid tumour is a fibromatosis colli, a benign fibrotic swelling of the sternocleidomastoid associated with congenital torticollis. It usually resolves with physiotherapy and stretching, and surgical release is considered for persistent torticollis beyond about one year. Ultrasound confirms the diagnosis.

Option by option

  • A. Passive stretching exercises (correct)

    Correct. Most resolve with stretching.

  • B. Excision of the mass

    Excision is unnecessary and risks scarring.

  • C. Biopsy and chemotherapy

    It is not malignant.

  • D. Radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy is inappropriate.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Passive stretching exercises. A sternomastoid tumour is a fibromatosis colli, a benign fibrotic swelling of the sternocleidomastoid associated with congenital torticollis.

Why is "Excision of the mass" not the answer?

Excision is unnecessary and risks scarring.

Why is "Biopsy and chemotherapy" not the answer?

It is not malignant.

Why is "Radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy is inappropriate.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: sternomastoid tumour in General Surgery. It usually resolves with physiotherapy and stretching, and surgical release is considered for persistent torticollis beyond about one year. Ultrasound confirms the diagnosis.

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 Paediatric surgery: sternomastoid tumour?

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.