Head & Neck Pathology MCQs: Oral, Ear, OmpathStudy

MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY — MEDICAL SCHOOL Programme: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Year 3 Unit: Endocrine, Head & Neck Pathology / Head & Neck Pathology Reg No: BMS/2023/60482 --- PAPER 1: MCQ — End of Semester 2 CAT (23rd March 2026) Q1. Child, multiple painful vesicles on oral mucosa + fever. A. Candida albicans B. HSV-1 C. HPV D. EBV E. Streptococcus viridans Answer: B — HSV-1 Classic primary herpetic gingivostomatitis. Candida (A) causes white plaques, not vesicles; HPV (C) causes warts/papillomas, not acute vesicular fever illness. Q2. Fluctuant bluish swelling on lower lip after trauma. A. Ranula B. Mucocele C. Dentigerous cyst D. Ameloblastoma E. Pyogenic granuloma Answer: B — Mucocele Trauma to a minor salivary gland duct causes mucus extravasation, classically on the lower lip. Ranula (A) is the sublingual-gland equivalent, found in the floor of mouth. Q3. Odontogenic cyst most commonly associated with impacted third molars. A. Radicular cyst B. Keratocystic odontogenic tumour C. Dentigerous cyst D. Nasopalatine cyst E. Globulomaxillary cyst Answer: C — Dentigerous cyst Forms around the crown of an unerupted/impacted tooth. Radicular cysts (A) arise from non-vital teeth with periapical infection instead. Q4. Complication of chronic sinusitis. A. Otosclerosis B. Osteomyelitis C. Thyroglossal cyst D. Branchial cyst E. Pleomorphic adenoma Answer: B — Osteomyelitis Infection can spread to adjacent bone (e.g., frontal bone osteomyelitis — Pott's puffy tumour). C and D are congenital cysts, unrelated to sinusitis. Q5. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma strongly associated with: A. HSV B. EBV C. CMV D. HPV-6 E. HIV Answer: B — EBV Strong, well-established association, especially in endemic regions (Southern China, North Africa). Q6. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma occurs most commonly in: A. Elderly women B. Adult smokers C. Adolescent males D. Neonates E. Immunocompromised adults Answer: C — Adolescent males Classic presentation is a teenage male with recurrent epistaxis and nasal obstruction; hormonally driven (androgen-sensitive). Q7. Otosclerosis leads to hearing loss due to fixation of the: A. Malleus B. Incus C. Stapes D. Tympanic membrane E. Cochlea Answer: C — Stapes Abnormal bone remodelling fixes the stapes footplate in the oval window, causing conductive hearing loss. Q8. Necrotising otitis media is especially aggressive in: A. Children B. Diabetics C. Smokers D. Pregnant women E. Athletes Answer: B — Diabetics Malignant/necrotising otitis externa-media (classically Pseudomonas) is a serious complication predominantly in diabetic and immunocompromised patients. Q9. Basal cell carcinoma of the pinna is mainly associated with: A. EBV B. Sun exposure C. HPV D. Fungal infection E. Autoimmune disease Answer: B — Sun exposure Cumulative UV exposure is the primary risk factor for BCC on sun-exposed skin like the ear. Q10. Carotid body tumours arise from: A. Thyroid tissue B. Lymph nodes C. Paraganglia D. Salivary glands E. Schwann cells Answer: C — Paraganglia Carotid body tumours are paragangliomas, arising from neural crest-derived chemoreceptor tissue at the carotid bifurcation. Q11. Succinate dehydrogenase mutations are linked to: A. Warthin tumour B. Paraganglioma C. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma D. Pleomorphic adenoma E. Lymphoma Answer: B — Paraganglioma SDH gene mutations (SDHB/C/D) are the classic hereditary cause of familial paragangliomas/pheochromocytomas. Q12. Most common salivary gland tumour: A. Warthin tumour B. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma C. Pleomorphic adenoma D. Acinic cell carcinoma E. Adenoid cystic carcinoma Answer: C — Pleomorphic adenoma Most common overall salivary gland tumour (benign), typically in the parotid. Warthin (A) is second most common benign tumour; mucoepidermoid (B) is the most common malignant one. Q13. Growth hormone excess in adults causes: A. Gigantism B. Acromegaly C. Dwarfism D. Diabetes insipidus E. Addison disease Answer: B — Acromegaly Excess GH after epiphyseal closure causes acromegaly; gigantism (A) occurs only if excess GH begins before growth plate closure (childhood). Q14. ADH is produced in the: A. Anterior pituitary B. Hypothalamus C. Thyroid D. Adrenal E. Pineal gland Answer: B — Hypothalamus Synthesised in the hypothalamus (supraoptic/paraventricular nuclei) and only stored/released from the posterior pituitary. Q15. Bitemporal hemianopia results from compression of: A. Optic nerve B. Optic chiasm C. Occipital lobe D. Retina E. Brainstem Answer: B — Optic chiasm Classic finding with pituitary macroadenomas compressing the decussating nasal retinal fibres at the chiasm. Q16. Main cause of age-related cataract: A. Retinal vascular occlusion B. Protein denaturation within the lens C. Optic nerve atrophy D. Increased aqueous humour production E. Viral infection Answer: B — Protein denaturation within the lens Age-related crystallin protein aggregation/denaturation causes lens opacification. Q17. Cotton wool spots in the retina represent: A. Lipid