Larynx and airway: myxoedema of the vocal folds: 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: myxoedema of the vocal folds

Sample item

A middle-aged woman has a gradually deepening hoarse voice, fatigue, constipation and cold intolerance. Laryngoscopy shows diffuse oedematous vocal folds. What is the most appropriate treatment of the voice change?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Thyroid hormone replacement

Hypothyroidism causes mucopolysaccharide deposition and oedema in the vocal folds, giving a low hoarse voice that improves with levothyroxine. Surgery is not needed.

Option by option

  • A. Voice rest alone

    Voice rest does not correct the underlying cause.

  • B. Antireflux surgery

    Antireflux surgery treats reflux laryngitis and not myxoedema.

  • C. Microsurgical stripping of the folds

    Stripping treats Reinke oedema from smoking and is not the aim here.

  • D. Thyroid hormone replacement (correct)

    Correct. Treating the hypothyroidism reverses the oedema and voice change.

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 D, Thyroid hormone replacement. Hypothyroidism causes mucopolysaccharide deposition and oedema in the vocal folds, giving a low hoarse voice that improves with levothyroxine.

Why is "Voice rest alone" not the answer?

Voice rest does not correct the underlying cause.

Why is "Antireflux surgery" not the answer?

Antireflux surgery treats reflux laryngitis and not myxoedema.

Why is "Microsurgical stripping of the folds" not the answer?

Stripping treats Reinke oedema from smoking and is not the aim here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: myxoedema of the vocal folds in ENT. Surgery is not needed.

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: myxoedema of the vocal folds?

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.