Inner ear: Cogan syndrome: 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 · Inner ear: Cogan syndrome

Sample item

A 28-year-old has red painful eyes with interstitial keratitis, followed by sudden bilateral hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus. Syphilis serology is negative. What is the best treatment?

ACochlear implantation as first stepBHigh-dose systemic corticosteroidsCPenicillin for 14 daysDAntiviral therapy alone

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. High-dose systemic corticosteroids

Cogan syndrome is an autoimmune vasculitic disorder combining non-syphilitic interstitial keratitis with audiovestibular dysfunction. Early high-dose steroids, and immunosuppressants if needed, may preserve hearing. Cochlear implantation is reserved for profound residual loss.

Option by option

A. Cochlear implantation as first step
Implantation is for established profound loss, not the first step.
B. High-dose systemic corticosteroids (correct)
Correct. Early systemic steroids treat the autoimmune process.
C. Penicillin for 14 days
Penicillin is for syphilis, which is excluded here.
D. Antiviral therapy alone
Antivirals alone will not treat an autoimmune disease.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, High-dose systemic corticosteroids. Cogan syndrome is an autoimmune vasculitic disorder combining non-syphilitic interstitial keratitis with audiovestibular dysfunction.

Why is "Cochlear implantation as first step" not the answer?

Implantation is for established profound loss, not the first step.

Why is "Penicillin for 14 days" not the answer?

Penicillin is for syphilis, which is excluded here.

Why is "Antiviral therapy alone" not the answer?

Antivirals alone will not treat an autoimmune disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Inner ear: Cogan syndrome in ENT. Early high-dose steroids, and immunosuppressants if needed, may preserve hearing. Cochlear implantation is reserved for profound residual loss.

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 Inner ear: Cogan syndrome?

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.