Oral medicine and oral cancer: glossopharyngeal neuralgia: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Sample item

A 62-year-old has paroxysms of stabbing pain in the posterior tongue and tonsillar fossa, radiating to the ear and triggered by swallowing and yawning, with occasional fainting. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia gives brief shocks in the throat and ear triggered by swallowing, and syncope can result from vagal bradycardia. It is treated with carbamazepine.

Option by option

  • A. Geniculate neuralgia

    Geniculate neuralgia causes deep ear pain.

  • B. Eagle syndrome

    Eagle syndrome gives a dull throat ache from an elongated styloid and no syncope.

  • C. Trigeminal neuralgia of the mandibular division

    Trigeminal neuralgia follows the facial divisions and is triggered by touching the face.

  • D. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (correct)

    Correct. The trigger, site and fainting point to the ninth nerve.

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 Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia gives brief shocks in the throat and ear triggered by swallowing, and syncope can result from vagal bradycardia.

Why is "Geniculate neuralgia" not the answer?

Geniculate neuralgia causes deep ear pain.

Why is "Eagle syndrome" not the answer?

Eagle syndrome gives a dull throat ache from an elongated styloid and no syncope.

Why is "Trigeminal neuralgia of the mandibular division" not the answer?

Trigeminal neuralgia follows the facial divisions and is triggered by touching the face.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: glossopharyngeal neuralgia in Dentistry. It is treated with carbamazepine.

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 Oral medicine and oral cancer: glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.