Larynx and airway: cricoarytenoid arthritis: 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 · Larynx and airway: cricoarytenoid arthritis

Sample item

A 50-year-old woman with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis has hoarseness, odynophagia, a feeling of fullness in the throat and exertional stridor. Laryngoscopy shows red swollen arytenoids with limited cord abduction. What is the cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cricoarytenoid joint arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can inflame the cricoarytenoid joints, causing pain, hoarseness and limited abduction that may progress to stridor from fixation of the cords. Management is of the underlying disease, with steroids, and rarely tracheostomy for airway compromise.

Option by option

  • A. Cricoarytenoid joint arthritis (correct)

    Correct. Inflammation of the cricoarytenoid joint explains the red arytenoids and limited abduction.

  • B. Reinke oedema

    Reinke oedema gives a low-pitched voice with polypoid cords in smokers and no arytenoid redness.

  • C. Vagal neuropathy with cord paralysis

    Vagal neuropathy would give a flaccid immobile cord without joint swelling or pain.

  • D. Laryngeal tuberculosis

    Laryngeal tuberculosis gives posterior mucosal ulceration with systemic features.

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 A, Cricoarytenoid joint arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis can inflame the cricoarytenoid joints, causing pain, hoarseness and limited abduction that may progress to stridor from fixation of the cords.

Why is "Reinke oedema" not the answer?

Reinke oedema gives a low-pitched voice with polypoid cords in smokers and no arytenoid redness.

Why is "Vagal neuropathy with cord paralysis" not the answer?

Vagal neuropathy would give a flaccid immobile cord without joint swelling or pain.

Why is "Laryngeal tuberculosis" not the answer?

Laryngeal tuberculosis gives posterior mucosal ulceration with systemic features.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: cricoarytenoid arthritis in ENT. Management is of the underlying disease, with steroids, and rarely tracheostomy for airway compromise.

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 Larynx and airway: cricoarytenoid arthritis?

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.