ENT ENT Head and Neck Oncology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the most common malignant tumor of the parotid gland?
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (Correct answer)
- Pleomorphic adenoma
- Acinic cell carcinoma
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Correct answer: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor overall and the most frequent malignancy of the parotid gland, classified as low, intermediate, or high grade.
Question 2: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is strongly associated with which viral infection?
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (Correct answer)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
Correct answer: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is strongly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, particularly the undifferentiated WHO type III subtype endemic in Southeast Asia and southern China.
Question 3: Which is the most common site of squamous cell carcinoma within the oral cavity?
- Hard palate
- Floor of mouth
- Lateral border of the tongue (Correct answer)
- Buccal mucosa
Correct answer: Lateral border of the tongue
The lateral border of the tongue is the most common site for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for approximately 40% of all oral cavity cancers.
Question 4: What is the preferred treatment for T1N0 glottic (true vocal cord) carcinoma?
- Total laryngectomy
- Chemotherapy alone
- Radiation therapy or transoral laser excision (Correct answer)
- Neck dissection
Correct answer: Radiation therapy or transoral laser excision
Early-stage T1N0 glottic carcinoma has excellent cure rates with either radiation therapy or transoral laser microsurgery, both of which preserve voice function.
Question 5: Perineural invasion in head and neck cancers is most classically associated with which salivary gland tumor type?
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma (Correct answer)
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
- Lymphoma
Correct answer: Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma has a strong predilection for perineural invasion, causing skip lesions along nerve sheaths and contributing to its high rate of late recurrence.
Question 6: Which is the most common benign tumor of the parotid gland?
- Warthin's tumor
- Oncocytoma
- Pleomorphic adenoma (Correct answer)
- Capillary hemangioma
Correct answer: Pleomorphic adenoma
Pleomorphic adenoma (benign mixed tumor) is the most common salivary gland neoplasm, accounting for approximately 70% of all parotid gland tumors.
ENT ENT Head and Neck Oncology 1
What is the most common malignant tumor of the parotid gland?