Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Question Bank

Read the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Question Bank sample questions

1. 1.All are true about the treatment of CSF rhinorrhea EXCEPT:

   • A.Antibiotics to avoid infection
   • B.Cleaning & sterilization of the skin of the nasal vestibule.
   • C.Nasal drops.Correct
   • D.Treatment of the cause.

   Why: Treatment of CSF rhinorrhoea aims to prevent ascending meningitis and close the leak: prophylactic antibiotics, asepsis of the nasal vestibule, and treating the underlying cause. Nasal drops are contraindicated because they can drive organisms intracranially and increase infection risk, so they are the exception.

2. 2.Resistant epistaxis from below the middle turbinate requires ligation of:

   • A.The anterior ethmoidal artery.
   • B.The internal jugular vein.
   • C.The sphenopalatine artery.Correct
   • D.The maxillary artery.

   Why: Bleeding from below the middle turbinate arises from the sphenopalatine artery, a terminal branch of the maxillary artery supplying the posterior nasal cavity. Resistant posterior epistaxis is therefore controlled by sphenopalatine artery ligation. The anterior ethmoidal artery supplies the area above the middle turbinate.

3. 3.Acute tonsillitis may cause all of the following EXCEPT:

   • A.Acute retropharyngeal abscess.
   • B.Quinsy
   • C.Chronic retropharyngeal abscess.Correct
   • D.Para Pharyngeal abscess.

   Why: Acute tonsillitis can cause quinsy, parapharyngeal abscess, and acute retropharyngeal abscess (suppuration of retropharyngeal nodes). Chronic retropharyngeal abscess is caused by tuberculosis of the cervical vertebrae, not acute tonsillitis, so it is the exception.

4. 4.The semicircular canals and vestibule are responsible for:

   • A.Hearing
   • B.Taste
   • C.Conduction of sound waves
   • D.BalanceCorrect

   Why: The semicircular canals detect angular acceleration and the vestibule (utricle and saccule) detects linear acceleration and gravity, together forming the vestibular apparatus responsible for balance. Hearing is the function of the cochlea.

5. 5.Fossa of Rosenmullar is a common site for

   • A.Angiofibroma
   • B.Nasopharyngeal carcinomaCorrect
   • C.Lipoma
   • D.Adenoid

   Why: The fossa of Rosenmuller is a recess in the lateral nasopharyngeal wall and is the commonest site of origin of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Its hidden location explains late presentation, often with a neck mass or unilateral serous otitis media.

6. 6.Unilateral nasal obstruction can be the result of the following except:

   • A.Unilateral choanal atresia
   • B.Septal perforationCorrect
   • C.Antro-choanal polyp
   • D.Marked septal deviation

   Why: A septal perforation connects the two nasal cavities but does not obstruct airflow, so it is the exception. Unilateral choanal atresia, antrochoanal polyp, and marked septal deviation all block one side.

7. 7.Pain in tempro-mandibular joint is referred to the ear through:

   • A.The 5th nerve.Correct
   • B.2nd & 3rd cervical nerve.
   • C.The 9th nerve.
   • D.The 10th nerve.

   Why: TMJ pain is referred to the ear through the auriculotemporal branch of the trigeminal (5th) nerve, which supplies both the joint and the external ear.

8. 8.Laryngeal stenosis may be due to:

   • A.Scleroma.
   • B.All of the above.Correct
   • C.TB.
   • D.High tracheostomy.

   Why: Laryngeal stenosis has multiple causes including scleroma, tuberculosis, and trauma such as high tracheostomy injuring the cricoid. Because all listed causes are valid, 'all of the above' is correct.

9. 9.Chronic sinusitis has:

   • A.Low grade fever.
   • B.No feverCorrect
   • C.Intermittent fever.
   • D.Remittent fever.

   Why: Chronic sinusitis is a low-grade smouldering inflammation without significant systemic upset, so fever is characteristically absent. Fever suggests an acute exacerbation.

10. 10.During flying otitis barotrauma occurs:

    • A.During ascent
    • B.None of the above
    • C.During descentCorrect
    • D.During both

    Why: Barotrauma occurs during descent because increasing ambient pressure collapses and locks the Eustachian tube, preventing air entering the middle ear and causing relative negative pressure with retraction and pain. On ascent, expanding middle-ear air vents passively.