Q.1 Which is the most common benign salivary gland tumor?
Warthin tumor
Pleomorphic adenoma
Oncocytoma
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Explanation - Pleomorphic adenoma, also called mixed tumor, is the most common benign salivary gland tumor, typically affecting the parotid gland.
Correct answer is: Pleomorphic adenoma
Q.2 Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is most strongly associated with infection by:
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Hepatitis B virus
Explanation - EBV infection has a strong etiological link with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, especially in endemic areas such as Southern China.
Correct answer is: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
Q.3 The most common site of origin for a paraganglioma in the head and neck is:
Carotid body
Jugular bulb
Tympanic cavity
Vagal nerve
Explanation - Carotid body tumors are the most common head and neck paragangliomas, presenting as slow-growing lateral neck masses.
Correct answer is: Carotid body
Q.4 Thyroglossal duct cysts are typically located:
Lateral neck
Midline neck
Supraclavicular region
Infratemporal fossa
Explanation - Thyroglossal duct cysts usually present as midline neck swellings that move with swallowing or tongue protrusion.
Correct answer is: Midline neck
Q.5 The most common malignant tumor of the parotid gland is:
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Acinic cell carcinoma
Explanation - Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant parotid tumor, varying from low to high grade in aggressiveness.
Correct answer is: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Q.6 Branchial cleft cysts most commonly arise from persistence of:
First cleft
Second cleft
Third cleft
Fourth cleft
Explanation - Second branchial cleft cysts are the most frequent, typically appearing along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid.
Correct answer is: Second cleft
Q.7 A painless, slowly enlarging mass in the parotid gland that is mobile is most likely:
Pleomorphic adenoma
Warthin tumor
Lymphoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Explanation - Pleomorphic adenomas present as painless, mobile, slow-growing masses in the parotid region.
Correct answer is: Pleomorphic adenoma
Q.8 Which tumor of the minor salivary glands has a predilection for the palate?
Pleomorphic adenoma
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Warthin tumor
Adenocarcinoma
Explanation - Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant minor salivary gland tumor, with the palate being a frequent site.
Correct answer is: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Q.9 Cervical lymphadenopathy in a young patient with fever, weight loss, and night sweats is suggestive of:
Thyroglossal cyst
Hodgkin lymphoma
Paraganglioma
Branchial cyst
Explanation - Systemic symptoms with cervical lymphadenopathy are characteristic of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Correct answer is: Hodgkin lymphoma
Q.10 Papillary thyroid carcinoma typically spreads to:
Lung
Bone
Cervical lymph nodes
Liver
Explanation - Papillary thyroid carcinoma spreads predominantly via lymphatics to cervical lymph nodes.
Correct answer is: Cervical lymph nodes
Q.11 A parotid tumor that is strongly associated with smoking is:
Warthin tumor
Pleomorphic adenoma
Oncocytoma
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Explanation - Warthin tumor (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) has a strong link with cigarette smoking.
Correct answer is: Warthin tumor
Q.12 The most aggressive salivary gland malignancy, with perineural invasion, is:
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Acinic cell carcinoma
Oncocytoma
Explanation - Adenoid cystic carcinoma is highly aggressive with characteristic perineural invasion and late metastasis.
Correct answer is: Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Q.13 A midline neck swelling that elevates with tongue protrusion is characteristic of:
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Branchial cyst
Dermoid cyst
Laryngocele
Explanation - Thyroglossal duct cysts are midline and move with swallowing or tongue protrusion due to their embryological origin.
Correct answer is: Thyroglossal duct cyst
Q.14 The most common pediatric malignant neck tumor is:
Neuroblastoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Lymphoma
Thyroid carcinoma
Explanation - Lymphoma is the most common malignant tumor in the pediatric neck region.
Correct answer is: Lymphoma
Q.15 Which condition presents with a pulsatile neck mass that splay the carotid bifurcation?
Carotid body tumor
Thyroglossal cyst
Branchial cyst
Lymphadenopathy
Explanation - Carotid body tumors are paragangliomas that classically cause splaying of the carotid bifurcation.
Correct answer is: Carotid body tumor
Q.16 Dermoid cysts in the neck are usually located:
Midline
Lateral neck
Supraclavicular fossa
Posterior triangle
Explanation - Dermoid cysts typically occur in the midline due to sequestration of ectodermal tissue.
Correct answer is: Midline
Q.17 The most common site of extranodal lymphoma in the head and neck is:
Parotid gland
Thyroid gland
Waldeyer’s ring
Submandibular gland
Explanation - Waldeyer’s ring (tonsils and adenoids) is the most frequent site of extranodal lymphoma in the head and neck.
Correct answer is: Waldeyer’s ring
Q.18 Which is the most common malignant tumor of the larynx?
Adenocarcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Sarcoma
Lymphoma
Explanation - More than 90% of laryngeal malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas, related strongly to smoking and alcohol.
Correct answer is: Squamous cell carcinoma
Q.19 A painless midline neck mass in an adult should raise suspicion for:
Dermoid cyst
Thyroglossal cyst carcinoma
Branchial cyst
Goiter
Explanation - In adults, thyroglossal duct cysts can rarely undergo malignant transformation, most often into papillary carcinoma.
Correct answer is: Thyroglossal cyst carcinoma
Q.20 The 'hot potato voice' is classically seen in:
Tonsillar abscess
Parotid tumor
Thyroid carcinoma
Branchial cyst
Explanation - Peritonsillar abscess produces muffled speech called 'hot potato voice'.
Correct answer is: Tonsillar abscess
Q.21 Which genetic syndrome is associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma?
MEN type 2
MEN type 1
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Gardner’s syndrome
Explanation - Medullary thyroid carcinoma is associated with MEN 2A and MEN 2B syndromes due to RET proto-oncogene mutations.
Correct answer is: MEN type 2
Q.22 The most common site for laryngocele is:
False vocal cord
True vocal cord
Ventricle of Morgagni
Subglottis
Explanation - Laryngocele is an air-filled sac arising from the laryngeal ventricle (ventricle of Morgagni).
Correct answer is: Ventricle of Morgagni
Q.23 Which is the most common congenital neck mass overall?
Branchial cyst
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Dermoid cyst
Lymphangioma
Explanation - Thyroglossal duct cyst is the most common congenital midline neck mass.
Correct answer is: Thyroglossal duct cyst
Q.24 The most common malignant tumor of the thyroid gland is:
Papillary carcinoma
Follicular carcinoma
Medullary carcinoma
Anaplastic carcinoma
Explanation - Papillary carcinoma accounts for about 80% of thyroid cancers and has an excellent prognosis.
Correct answer is: Papillary carcinoma
Q.25 Which vascular lesion of the head and neck commonly undergoes spontaneous regression in childhood?
Carotid body tumor
Capillary hemangioma
Lymphangioma
Angiosarcoma
Explanation - Capillary hemangiomas, common in infants, typically involute spontaneously over time.
Correct answer is: Capillary hemangioma