Salivary glands: sialendoscopy: 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 · Salivary glands: sialendoscopy

Sample item

A 35-year-old has recurrent meal-related swelling of the parotid gland, and ultrasound shows a 3 mm stone in the duct with dilatation. Which minimally invasive technique allows direct visualisation and removal of the stone with preservation of the gland?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Sialendoscopy with basket retrieval

Sialendoscopy passes a miniature endoscope through the duct orifice to see and remove stones and treat strictures, and has largely replaced gland excision for obstructive sialadenitis. Larger impacted stones may be fragmented by lithotripsy or removed by combined approaches. The gland is preserved.

Option by option

  • A. Sialendoscopy with basket retrieval (correct)

    Correct. It is a gland-preserving method.

  • B. Botulinum toxin injection

    Botulinum toxin reduces secretion and does not remove stones.

  • C. Radiotherapy to the gland

    Radiotherapy is not used for stones.

  • D. Total parotidectomy

    Parotidectomy risks the facial nerve and is a last resort.

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, Sialendoscopy with basket retrieval. Sialendoscopy passes a miniature endoscope through the duct orifice to see and remove stones and treat strictures, and has largely replaced gland excision for obstructive sialadenitis.

Why is "Botulinum toxin injection" not the answer?

Botulinum toxin reduces secretion and does not remove stones.

Why is "Radiotherapy to the gland" not the answer?

Radiotherapy is not used for stones.

Why is "Total parotidectomy" not the answer?

Parotidectomy risks the facial nerve and is a last resort.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Salivary glands: sialendoscopy in ENT. Larger impacted stones may be fragmented by lithotripsy or removed by combined approaches. The gland is preserved.

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 Salivary glands: sialendoscopy?

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.