Head and neck tumours: commando operation: 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 · Head and neck tumours: commando operation

Sample item

A 55-year-old man has a floor-of-mouth carcinoma invading the mandible with ipsilateral neck nodes. The surgeon removes the primary with a segment of mandible in continuity with a neck dissection. What is this operation known as?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Commando operation

The commando (combined mandibulectomy and neck dissection in continuity) operation resects the oral cancer, part of the mandible and the cervical nodes as a single specimen. It is followed by reconstruction with a flap. It is used when there is mandibular involvement.

Option by option

  • A. Commando operation (correct)

    Correct. The primary, mandible and nodes are removed en bloc.

  • B. Caldwell-Luc operation

    Caldwell-Luc is a maxillary sinus operation.

  • C. Whipple operation

    The Whipple procedure is for pancreatic head tumours.

  • D. Lothrop procedure

    The Lothrop procedure is a frontal sinus drainage operation.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Commando operation. The commando (combined mandibulectomy and neck dissection in continuity) operation resects the oral cancer, part of the mandible and the cervical nodes as a single specimen.

Why is "Caldwell-Luc operation" not the answer?

Caldwell-Luc is a maxillary sinus operation.

Why is "Whipple operation" not the answer?

The Whipple procedure is for pancreatic head tumours.

Why is "Lothrop procedure" not the answer?

The Lothrop procedure is a frontal sinus drainage operation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck tumours: commando operation in ENT. It is followed by reconstruction with a flap. It is used when there is mandibular involvement.

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 Head and neck tumours: commando operation?

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.