H&N Clinical Conditions

Question 1

What is Meniere’s disease?

Answer 1

Meniere’s disease is a condition of the inner ear which causes vertigo (dizziness with spinning sensation), hearing loss and tinnitus (ear ringing)

Question 2

What is a subconjuctival haemorrhage?

Answer 2

A subconjunctival haemorrhage (aka hyposphagma) is bleeding underneath the conjunctiva due to the rupture of one of the blood vessels in this mucosal layer

Question 3

What is a saddle nose deformity?

Answer 3

A saddle nose deformity is a condition due to an untreated septal haematoma which leads to avascular necrosis of cartilaginous septum

Question 4

What is periorbital cellulitis?

Answer 4

Periorbital cellulitis is the cellulitis of orbital structures which occurs secondary to infection from bites, periorbital trauma, sinuses (fronto-ethmoidal sinuses)

Question 5

What is anosmia and what is its commonest cause?

Answer 5

Anosmia is a loss of sense of smell (commonest cause is a cold)

Question 6

What is a basilar skull fracture?

Answer 6

A basilar skull fracture is a fracture involving the cranial base, associated with cranial nerve injuries

Question 7

What is Bell’s palsy?

Answer 7

• Bell’s palsy is the inflammation of the facial nerve causing oedema and compression of the nerve as it runs through its bony canal within the temporal bone
• This causes facial paralysis on the ipsilateral side of the injury

Question 8

What is an intracerebral haemorrhage?

Answer 8

An intracerebral haemorrhage is bleeding in the brain tissue due to contusions or the tearing of white matter

Question 9

What is a stye?

Answer 9

A stye is a small painful lump in the inside of the eyelid due to the blockage of eyelash follicles

Question 10

What is croup?

Answer 10

• Croup is a common childhood illness caused by the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (larynx & trachea, ± bronchi) as a result of a viral infection
• It presents with a harsh barking cough, hoarse voice and inspiratory stridor

Question 11

What is lymphoedema?

Answer 11

Lymphoedema is the abnormal collection of protein‐rich fluid causing tissue swelling due to compromised lymphatic system

Question 12

What is epistaxis?

Answer 12

Epistaxis is the common occurrence of bleeding from the nose

Question 13

What is a cephalohaematoma?

Answer 13

A cephalohaematoma is a traumatic subperiosteal haematoma that occurs underneath the skin, in the periosteum of an infant’s skull bone

Question 14

What are nasal polyps?

Answer 14

• Nasal polyps are fleshy, benign swellings of nasal mucosa which are usually pale/yellow and reddened
• They are usually bilateral and are common >40 years

Question 15

What are cataracts?

Answer 15

Cataracts are progressive opacities (clouding) occurring within lens leading to decreased vision

Question 16

What is CHARGE Syndrome?

Answer 16

• CHARGE Syndrome is a condition caused by a heterozygous mutation of the CHD7 protein which is essential for the production of multipotent neural crest
• It presents with coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, growth & developmental retardation, genital hypoplasia and ear defects

Question 17

What is epilepsy?

Answer 17

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition where there is a tendency towards the spontaneous firing of neurons (activation of action potentials) within a specific region of the cortex

Question 18

What is an acoustic neuroma?

Answer 18

An acoustic neuroma (aka vestibular schwannoma) is a benign brain tumour of the Schwann cells developing on the vestibulocochlear nerve, impairing hearing and balance

Question 19

What is Sialolithiasis?

Answer 19

Sialolithiasis (salivary gland stones) is a condition where a calcified mass / sialolith forms within a salivary gland, usually in the duct of the submandibular gland

Question 20

What is presbyopia?

Answer 20

Presbyopia is the age-related inability to focus near-object as the lens becomes stiffer and less able to change shape

Question 21

What is blepharitis?

Answer 21

Blepharitis is a common eye condition wherein the eyelids become red and inflamed often due to bacterial infection

Question 22

What is acute sinusitis?

Answer 22

Acute sinusitis is the acute inflammation of the lining of the sinus which is commonly infective and often secondary to the viral infection of nasal cavity (common cold)

Question 23

What is a cavernous sinus thrombosis?

Answer 23

A cavernous sinus thrombosis is a blood clot in the cavernous sinus

Question 24

What is a cholesteatoma?

Answer 24

Cholesteatoma is a rare abnormal skin growth (sac or cyst of skin cells) growing into into middle ear, behind the tympanic membrane

Question 25

What is an orbital blowout fracture?

Answer 25

An orbital blowout fracture is a fracture leading to the partial herniation of the orbital contents through the the orbital wall due to blunt force trauma to the eye

Question 26

What is presbyacusis?

Answer 26

Presbyacusis is old‐age related hearing loss

Question 27

What is an intracranial haemorrhage?

Answer 27

An intracranial haemorrhage is bleeding in ‘spaces’ between meningeal layers due to head trauma or the rupture of a blood vessel (aneurysm)

Question 28

What is papilloedema?

Answer 28

Papilloedema is a condition in which increased pressure in or around the brain causes the part of the optic nerve inside the eye to swell

Question 29

What is rhinitis?

Answer 29

Rhinitis is the inflammation of the nasal mucosal lining

Question 30

What is a glaucoma?

Answer 30

• Glaucoma is an eye condition due to the obstruction of the drainage of aqueous humour, leading to a rise in intra-ocular pressure
• If left untreated glaucoma leads to irreversible damage and death of the optic nerve, causing impairment of vision or even blindness

Question 31

What is adenoiditis?

Answer 31

Adenoiditis is the chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils which may obstruct the passage of air from the nasal cavities into the nasopharynx, adding a nasal tone to speech

Question 32

What is a pharyngeal pouch?

Answer 32

• A pharyngeal pouch represents a posteromedial (false) diverticulum through Killian’s dehiscence
• The herniation occurs between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles

Question 33

What is generalised tonic-clonic epilepsy?

Answer 33

• Generalised tonic-clonic epilepsy is a severe form of epilepsy where the abnormal firing of action potentials spreads to both hemispheres of the brain
• The person loses consciousness before involuntary jerking involving all four limbs begin

Question 34

What is epiglottitis?

Answer 34

• Acute epiglottitis is a condition in which there is inflammation of the epiglottis (± soft tissues surrounding the epiglottis)
• It is potentially life-threatening if complete obstruction of the airway occurs

Question 35

What is labyrinthitis?

Answer 35

Vestibular neuritis is and inner ear infection wherein the labyrinth becomes inflamed causing vertigo, hearing loss, nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), tinnitus and the feeling of pressure in the ear

Question 36

What is Treacher-Collins Syndrome?

Answer 36

• Treacher Collins Syndrome is an inherited, autosomal dominant condition characterised by hypoplasia of mandible & facial bones
• It is thought to result from the failure of colonisation of Ph Arch 1 with neural crest cells

Question 37

What is Di-George Syndrome?

Answer 37

• Di-George Syndrome is a condition characterised by congenital thymic aplasia & absence of parathyroid glands due to a deletion on chromosome 22
• It is caused by the disrupted development of the 3rd and 4th pharyngeal pouches and the abnormal development of neural crest

Question 38

What is tonsilitis?

Answer 38

Tonsilitis is the recurrent inflammation of the tonsils (especially palatine tonsils) due to a virus or bacteria, often requiring a tonsillectomy (less common)

Question 39

What is mediastinitis?

Answer 39

Mediastinitis is the inflammation of the tissues in the mid-chest, or mediastinum

Question 40

What is a TMJ dislocation?

Answer 40

• TMJ dislocation is a dislocation where the head of the mandible slips out the mandibular fossa, is pulled anteriorly, and the patient is unable to close their mouth
• It can occur due to a blow to the side of the face, yawning, or taking a large bite

Question 41

What is conjunctivitis?

Answer 41

Conjunctivitis (aka pink eye) is an eye condition that causes redness and inflammation of the conjuctiva due to infection or allergy

Question 42

What is a meibomian cyst?

Answer 42

A Meibomian cyst (aka chalazion) is a lump in the eyelid caused by the blockage and resulant inflammation of the Meibomian gland

Question 43

What is a peritonsillar abscess?

Answer 43

• A peritonsillar abscess is a bacterial infection that usually begins as a complication of untreated strep throat or tonsillitis
• It generally involves a pus-filled pocket that forms near one of your tonsils

Question 44

What are head & neck cancers?

Answer 44

HNC are a broad category of different tumour types which affect the upper aerodigestive structures, anywhere within the oral cavity, nose, nasal cavity and sinuses, pharynx and larynx