Nose and paranasal sinuses: mucormycosis hyphae: 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 and paranasal sinuses: mucormycosis hyphae

Sample item

A diabetic with ketoacidosis has facial pain and a black necrotic area on the middle turbinate. Which microscopic appearance is expected on KOH mount or biopsy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Broad, ribbon-like aseptate hyphae branching at right angles

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is caused by Mucorales, which have broad, thin-walled, mostly aseptate hyphae with right-angle branching and invade vessels causing infarction and black eschar. Aspergillus shows narrow septate hyphae branching at acute angles. Treatment is correction of acidosis, urgent debridement and amphotericin B.

Option by option

  • A. Budding yeasts with pseudohyphae

    Budding yeasts with pseudohyphae are typical of Candida.

  • B. Narrow septate hyphae branching at 45 degrees

    Thin septate hyphae with acute-angle branching describe Aspergillus.

  • C. Spherules containing endospores

    Spherules with endospores are seen in Coccidioides.

  • D. Broad, ribbon-like aseptate hyphae branching at right angles (correct)

    Correct. Broad aseptate right-angle branching hyphae are typical of Mucorales.

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 D, Broad, ribbon-like aseptate hyphae branching at right angles. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is caused by Mucorales, which have broad, thin-walled, mostly aseptate hyphae with right-angle branching and invade vessels causing infarction and black eschar.

Why is "Budding yeasts with pseudohyphae" not the answer?

Budding yeasts with pseudohyphae are typical of Candida.

Why is "Narrow septate hyphae branching at 45 degrees" not the answer?

Thin septate hyphae with acute-angle branching describe Aspergillus.

Why is "Spherules containing endospores" not the answer?

Spherules with endospores are seen in Coccidioides.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: mucormycosis hyphae in ENT. Aspergillus shows narrow septate hyphae branching at acute angles. Treatment is correction of acidosis, urgent debridement and amphotericin B.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: mucormycosis hyphae?

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.