Referred otalgia: 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 · Referred otalgia

Sample item

A smoker has had right ear pain for three weeks with a normal ear canal, normal eardrum and normal hearing, plus a sore throat and a neck node. What is the next step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Examine the pharynx and larynx, with endoscopy

Ear pain can be referred through the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves from the throat. Normal otoscopy in a smoker with a neck node demands exclusion of malignancy in the upper aerodigestive tract.

Option by option

  • A. Ear syringing

    Syringing treats wax.

  • B. Examine the pharynx and larynx, with endoscopy (correct)

    Correct. A non-otologic source of pain needs a search.

  • C. Tympanoplasty

    Tympanoplasty treats perforation.

  • D. Antibiotic ear drops

    Drops treat otitis externa.

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, Examine the pharynx and larynx, with endoscopy. Ear pain can be referred through the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves from the throat.

Why is "Ear syringing" not the answer?

Syringing treats wax.

Why is "Tympanoplasty" not the answer?

Tympanoplasty treats perforation.

Why is "Antibiotic ear drops" not the answer?

Drops treat otitis externa.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Referred otalgia in ENT. Normal otoscopy in a smoker with a neck node demands exclusion of malignancy in the upper aerodigestive tract.

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 Referred otalgia?

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.