Ear and audiology: gallium scan in malignant otitis externa: 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: gallium scan in malignant otitis externa

Sample item

A diabetic man with malignant otitis externa has completed three months of ciprofloxacin and the pain has settled. Which investigation best helps decide when to stop treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Gallium-67 scan showing resolution of uptake

A technetium scan stays positive for months after infection has cleared, as it reflects bone turnover. Gallium uptake tracks active inflammation and falls as the disease resolves, so serial gallium scans guide treatment duration together with ESR and clinical response.

Option by option

  • A. Gallium-67 scan showing resolution of uptake (correct)

    Correct. Gallium uptake falls as the infection resolves and helps guide when to stop treatment.

  • B. Repeat technetium bone scan

    A technetium scan remains positive long after cure and cannot separate active from healed disease.

  • C. Pure tone audiometry

    Audiometry measures hearing and does not show persistent bone infection.

  • D. Otoscopy alone showing a clean canal

    A clean canal does not exclude deep skull base osteomyelitis.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Gallium-67 scan showing resolution of uptake. A technetium scan stays positive for months after infection has cleared, as it reflects bone turnover.

Why is "Repeat technetium bone scan" not the answer?

A technetium scan remains positive long after cure and cannot separate active from healed disease.

Why is "Pure tone audiometry" not the answer?

Audiometry measures hearing and does not show persistent bone infection.

Why is "Otoscopy alone showing a clean canal" not the answer?

A clean canal does not exclude deep skull base osteomyelitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: gallium scan in malignant otitis externa in ENT. Gallium uptake tracks active inflammation and falls as the disease resolves, so serial gallium scans guide treatment duration together with ESR and clinical response.

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: gallium scan in malignant otitis externa?

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.