Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: nasopharyngeal carcinoma: practice question

A Radiology 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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Radiology · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Sample item

A man from north-east India has cervical nodes, serous otitis media and epistaxis. Biopsy shows non-keratinising nasopharyngeal carcinoma without distant spread. What is the primary treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin

The nasopharynx is surrounded by the skull base and critical structures, and the tumour is radiosensitive, so concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the primary treatment. Surgery is reserved for selected recurrences, and chemotherapy or observation alone are inadequate.

Option by option

  • A. Radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin (correct)

    Correct. Radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin is the primary treatment.

  • B. Radical nasopharyngectomy

    Radical surgery is difficult at the skull base and is not first-line.

  • C. Chemotherapy alone

    Chemotherapy alone cannot cure localised disease.

  • D. Observation

    Observation allows progression of a curable tumour.

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 Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin. The nasopharynx is surrounded by the skull base and critical structures, and the tumour is radiosensitive, so concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the primary treatment.

Why is "Radical nasopharyngectomy" not the answer?

Radical surgery is difficult at the skull base and is not first-line.

Why is "Chemotherapy alone" not the answer?

Chemotherapy alone cannot cure localised disease.

Why is "Observation" not the answer?

Observation allows progression of a curable tumour.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Radiology. Surgery is reserved for selected recurrences, and chemotherapy or observation alone are inadequate.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology 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.