Nose: odontogenic sinusitis: 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 · Nose: odontogenic sinusitis

Sample item

A 50-year-old has unilateral maxillary sinusitis with foul-smelling discharge that is resistant to antibiotics. CT shows maxillary opacity and a periapical lesion of the first upper molar with a root filling material extruded into the sinus. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Treat the dental source together with endoscopic sinus surgery

Odontogenic sinusitis follows infection or dental procedures that breach the sinus floor and is usually polymicrobial with anaerobes. It does not resolve unless the dental focus is treated, and endoscopic clearance of the sinus and extruded material is often needed.

Option by option

  • A. Repeated antral washouts only

    Washouts leave the source untreated.

  • B. Treat the dental source together with endoscopic sinus surgery (correct)

    Correct. Both the dental source and the sinus disease need treatment.

  • C. Antihistamines

    Antihistamines do not treat infection.

  • D. Nasal steroid spray alone

    Steroid spray alone does not eradicate infection from a dental source.

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 B, Treat the dental source together with endoscopic sinus surgery. Odontogenic sinusitis follows infection or dental procedures that breach the sinus floor and is usually polymicrobial with anaerobes.

Why is "Repeated antral washouts only" not the answer?

Washouts leave the source untreated.

Why is "Antihistamines" not the answer?

Antihistamines do not treat infection.

Why is "Nasal steroid spray alone" not the answer?

Steroid spray alone does not eradicate infection from a dental source.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose: odontogenic sinusitis in ENT. It does not resolve unless the dental focus is treated, and endoscopic clearance of the sinus and extruded material is often needed.

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 Nose: odontogenic sinusitis?

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.