Nose and paranasal sinuses: contact point headache: 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: contact point headache

Sample item

A 30-year-old has episodic pain around the medial canthus. Sinus CT shows clear sinuses, but nasal endoscopy shows a septal spur touching the lateral wall. The pain disappears after topical anaesthetic is applied to the contact area. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rhinogenic contact point headache

Mucosal contact between a spur and the turbinate or lateral wall can trigger referred pain that is abolished by topical anaesthesia of the contact point. Sinus CT is normal, and septoplasty or spur excision relieves it.

Option by option

  • A. Trigeminal neuralgia

    Trigeminal neuralgia gives brief electric shocks triggered by touch of the face.

  • B. Rhinogenic contact point headache (correct)

    Correct. Relief with local anaesthetic at the contact area and clear sinuses point to a contact point headache.

  • C. Cluster headache

    Cluster headache is periorbital with tearing and autonomic features in bouts.

  • D. Chronic maxillary sinusitis

    Chronic sinusitis would show mucosal thickening on CT.

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, Rhinogenic contact point headache. Mucosal contact between a spur and the turbinate or lateral wall can trigger referred pain that is abolished by topical anaesthesia of the contact point.

Why is "Trigeminal neuralgia" not the answer?

Trigeminal neuralgia gives brief electric shocks triggered by touch of the face.

Why is "Cluster headache" not the answer?

Cluster headache is periorbital with tearing and autonomic features in bouts.

Why is "Chronic maxillary sinusitis" not the answer?

Chronic sinusitis would show mucosal thickening on CT.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: contact point headache in ENT. Sinus CT is normal, and septoplasty or spur excision relieves it.

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 and paranasal sinuses: contact point headache?

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.