External ear: exostoses: 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 · External ear: exostoses

Sample item

A surfer in cold water has multiple bilateral broad-based smooth hard swellings in the deep canal. What is the best management when they are asymptomatic?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Observation and ear protection

Exostoses are multiple, sessile, bilateral bony outgrowths from cold water exposure (surfer's ear). They need treatment only if they trap water or debris and cause infections or hearing loss, when surgical canalplasty is done. A solitary pedunculated lesion would be an osteoma.

Option by option

  • A. Radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy is not indicated for a benign bony lesion.

  • B. Antibiotic drops

    Antibiotics have no role without infection.

  • C. Observation and ear protection (correct)

    Correct. Asymptomatic exostoses are watched and ears protected from cold water.

  • D. Immediate canalplasty

    Surgery is needed only for recurrent infection or occlusion.

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 C, Observation and ear protection. Exostoses are multiple, sessile, bilateral bony outgrowths from cold water exposure (surfer's ear).

Why is "Radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy is not indicated for a benign bony lesion.

Why is "Antibiotic drops" not the answer?

Antibiotics have no role without infection.

Why is "Immediate canalplasty" not the answer?

Surgery is needed only for recurrent infection or occlusion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests External ear: exostoses in ENT. They need treatment only if they trap water or debris and cause infections or hearing loss, when surgical canalplasty is done. A solitary pedunculated lesion would be an osteoma.

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 External ear: exostoses?

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.