Orbit: sphenoid wing meningioma: practice question

A Ophthalmology 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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Ophthalmology · Orbit: sphenoid wing meningioma

Sample item

A 48-year-old woman has slowly progressive painless proptosis with temporal fullness and a bony hardness at the lateral orbital wall. CT shows hyperostosis of the sphenoid wing. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Sphenoid wing meningioma

Sphenoid wing meningioma causes hyperostosis, proptosis and temporal fullness in middle-aged women. Optic nerve glioma presents in childhood with axial proptosis. Lacrimal gland tumours cause displacement down and in, and lymphoma shows a soft moulded mass.

Option by option

  • A. Orbital lymphoma

    Orbital lymphoma gives a soft mass moulded to the globe, without hyperostosis.

  • B. Sphenoid wing meningioma (correct)

    Correct. Hyperostosis with temporal fullness points to a sphenoid wing meningioma.

  • C. Optic nerve glioma

    Optic nerve glioma presents in children with axial proptosis and visual loss.

  • D. Lacrimal gland adenoma

    A lacrimal gland adenoma gives a mass in the lacrimal fossa with downward displacement.

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 Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is B, Sphenoid wing meningioma. Sphenoid wing meningioma causes hyperostosis, proptosis and temporal fullness in middle-aged women.

Why is "Orbital lymphoma" not the answer?

Orbital lymphoma gives a soft mass moulded to the globe, without hyperostosis.

Why is "Optic nerve glioma" not the answer?

Optic nerve glioma presents in children with axial proptosis and visual loss.

Why is "Lacrimal gland adenoma" not the answer?

A lacrimal gland adenoma gives a mass in the lacrimal fossa with downward displacement.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Orbit: sphenoid wing meningioma in Ophthalmology. Optic nerve glioma presents in childhood with axial proptosis. Lacrimal gland tumours cause displacement down and in, and lymphoma shows a soft moulded mass.

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 Orbit: sphenoid wing meningioma?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology 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.