Ear and audiology: rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear: 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 · Ear and audiology: rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear

Sample item

A 4-year-old has bloody ear discharge and a fleshy canal polyp that bleeds on touch. Within weeks he develops facial palsy, and CT shows mastoid destruction with a soft tissue mass. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the commonest malignant tumour of the middle ear in children. It mimics chronic otitis media with a polyp, but rapid facial palsy and bone destruction should prompt early biopsy. Treatment is chemotherapy with radiotherapy.

Option by option

  • A. Glomus tympanicum

    A glomus tympanicum is rare in children and gives pulsatile tinnitus with a red mass behind an intact drum.

  • B. Aural polyp of chronic suppurative otitis media

    A benign aural polyp from chronic otitis media does not cause rapid facial palsy with a destructive mass.

  • C. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (correct)

    Correct. A bleeding polyp with rapid facial palsy and bone destruction in a young child is rhabdomyosarcoma until proved otherwise.

  • D. Langerhans cell histiocytosis

    Langerhans cell histiocytosis gives lytic skull lesions and a punched-out mastoid, usually without a bulky mass.

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 ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the commonest malignant tumour of the middle ear in children.

Why is "Glomus tympanicum" not the answer?

A glomus tympanicum is rare in children and gives pulsatile tinnitus with a red mass behind an intact drum.

Why is "Aural polyp of chronic suppurative otitis media" not the answer?

A benign aural polyp from chronic otitis media does not cause rapid facial palsy with a destructive mass.

Why is "Langerhans cell histiocytosis" not the answer?

Langerhans cell histiocytosis gives lytic skull lesions and a punched-out mastoid, usually without a bulky mass.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear in ENT. It mimics chronic otitis media with a polyp, but rapid facial palsy and bone destruction should prompt early biopsy. Treatment is chemotherapy with radiotherapy.

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 Ear and audiology: rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear?

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.