Nose and paranasal sinuses: birth injury to the septum: 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.

Try it

ENT · Nose and paranasal sinuses: birth injury to the septum

Sample item

A newborn has noisy breathing and a deviated columella with a flattened left nostril. A feeding catheter passes easily through both nostrils. What is the most likely cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Dislocation of the septal cartilage from the vomerine groove

Birth trauma can dislocate the lower edge of the quadrilateral cartilage from the vomerine groove, deviating the columella toward one side. It is seen at birth, catheters pass, and early manual reduction can correct it. Choanal atresia blocks the catheter.

Option by option

  • A. Congenital pyriform aperture stenosis

    Pyriform aperture stenosis narrows the anterior nasal passages bilaterally without a deviated columella.

  • B. Dislocation of the septal cartilage from the vomerine groove (correct)

    Correct. A deviated columella with patent passages indicates septal cartilage dislocation after birth.

  • C. Bilateral choanal atresia

    Choanal atresia prevents the catheter from passing and gives cyanosis relieved by crying.

  • D. Nasal glioma

    A nasal glioma presents as a firm mass at the bridge, not columellar deviation.

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 B, Dislocation of the septal cartilage from the vomerine groove. Birth trauma can dislocate the lower edge of the quadrilateral cartilage from the vomerine groove, deviating the columella toward one side.

Why is "Congenital pyriform aperture stenosis" not the answer?

Pyriform aperture stenosis narrows the anterior nasal passages bilaterally without a deviated columella.

Why is "Bilateral choanal atresia" not the answer?

Choanal atresia prevents the catheter from passing and gives cyanosis relieved by crying.

Why is "Nasal glioma" not the answer?

A nasal glioma presents as a firm mass at the bridge, not columellar deviation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: birth injury to the septum in ENT. It is seen at birth, catheters pass, and early manual reduction can correct it. Choanal atresia blocks the catheter.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: birth injury to the septum?

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.