Otorhinolaryngology subject is included in the third professional (Part 1) of the MBBS curriculum. Every subject of MBBS holds a great significance in their medical career as well as for scoring well in the exams and hence, no subject should be neglected by the students. During the MBBS programme, a medical graduate must become well versed in the principles of examination and management of common Ear, Nose, and throat diseases and become skilled to treat common diseases like CSOM and manage the Rx in emergency situations like upper airway obstruction.

MBBS Prof Exam Pattern

According to the new CBME curriculum, the otorhinolaryngology subject comprises one 100 marks theory prof exam and 100 marks practical/oral/clinical examination including viva. A medico needs to score a minimum of 50% marks to pass the university examination.

Important Topics of Otorhinolaryngology for MBBS Prof Exams, NEET-PG, and INI-CET Entrance Examination

A medico must concentrate on early preparation for both MBBS university exams as well as competitive exams. Currently, two major exams are conducted for admission to postgraduate medical courses, one is NEET-PG and the other is INI-CET. The weightage of the ENT subject is 8-10 questions in NEET-PG and 6-8 questions in the INI-CET entrance examination.

Here’s a list of important topics of Otorhinolaryngology for MBBS prof exams, NEET-PG, and INI-CET entrance examinations.

EAR

• Tympanic Membrane
• Middle ear
• Physiology of hearing
• Physiology of Vestibular system
• Rinne’s test, Schwabach’s & Weber’s test
• Pure tone audiometry
• Tympanometry
• Auditory brainstem response
• Conductive Hearing loss
• SNHL
• Ototoxicity
• Social and Legal aspects: Spontaneous Nystagmus, Romberg’s test, Fistula test, Gait, Dix Hallpike, Caloric test
• D/D Vertigo
• Otitis externa
• Malignant otitis externa
• Otomycosis
• Impacted wax
• Foreign bodies in ear
• Keratosis obturans
• Acute Suppurative Otitis Media (ASOM) – complete
• Otitis media with effusion (OME) – complete
• Otic barotrauma
• Cholesteatoma
• Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) – Complete
• Tuberculous osteomyelitis
• Mastoiditis
• Periostitis,
• Extradural abscess,
• Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis
• Otosclerosis (complete)
• Facial nerve- anat & topodiagnostic tests, causes of facial paralysis, and Bell’s palsy
• Ménière disease
• Acoustic neuroma
• Hearing loss in children (Deaf Child)- causes, evaluation, management
• Rehabilitation- Hearing aids classification,
• BAHA,
• Cochlear implants,
• Otalgia- causes

NOSE

• Ant lat wall of nose
• Nasal septum
• Furuncle of nose
• Deviated nasal septum (DNS)
• Nasal septal hematoma
• Perforated septum
• Atrophic rhinitis
• Rhinoscleroma
• Rhinosporidiosis
• Nasal myiasis
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea
• Allergic rhinitis
• Nasal Polyps- A/C polyps, Ethmoidal polyps, difference
• Epistaxis
• Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS
• Chronic rhinosinusitis (with and without polyps)
• CA maxillary sinus

SALIVARY GLANDS

• Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF)
• Pleomorphic adenoma

PHARYNX

• Adenoids
• Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
• Nasopharyngeal cancer
• Acute tonsillitis
• chronic tonsillitis
• Ludwig angina, Retropharyngeal abscess, Quinsy, Parapharyngeal abscess
• Snoring
• Sleep apnea

LARYNX

• Spaces of larynx
• Laryngotracheal trauma
• Stridor
• laryngeal paralysis (complete)
• Vocal polyp
• Laryngeal cancer
• Vocal rehabilitation
• Hoarseness
• Tracheostomy (complete)
• FB- air passages

OESOPHAGUS

• Constrictions + Physio deglutition
• Dysphagia
• FB in oesophagus

RECENT ADVANCES

• Laser
• HIV in ENT

SURGERIES

• Caldwell–Luc operation
• Laser submucosal resection (SMR)
• Septoplasty
• SMR vs Septoplasty
• Diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE)
• Laryngoscopy
• Esophagoscopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Tonsillectomy
• Adenoidectomy
• Mastoiditis
• Periostitis
• Epidural abscess
• Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis

All the above-mentioned topics are NEET PG 2023 high-yielding topics and are frequently asked in the university examination as well.

Important Topics of ENT for MBBS Practical Examination

A medical student must attend all the practical sessions and ward postings in the ENT department to get familiarized with common ENT-related diseases and their diagnostic and treatment methods. The practical skills and knowledge gained during the ward posting help a lot in scoring during the examination.

Here’s a list of key topics for the MBBS practical examination.

• Clinical methods- Ear & Nose
• Myringotomy and Myringoplasty
• Cortical, Radical, and MR mastoidectomy
• Laser submucosal resection (SMR)
• Septoplasty
• SMR vs Septoplasty
• Diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE)
• Laryngoscopy
• Esophagoscopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Tonsillectomy
• Adenoidectomy
• Mastoiditis
• Periostitis
• Epidural abscess
• Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis
• Otalgia
• Tracheostomy
• FB-air passages
• FB-esophagus
• Acute and Chronic Tonsillitis

Click here to know the important topics of Microbiology for NEET-PG.

Click here to know the important topics of Community Medicine for NEET-PG.

Click here to know the important topics of Pharmacology for NEET-PG.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What book should I read for ENT?

Ans- Self-Assessment & Review: ENT by Sakshi Arora Hans and Diseases of Ear, Nose, and Throat: with Head & Neck Surgery by PL Dhingra are the recommended books on ENT for medical students.

Q2. Can an ENT surgeon become a neurosurgeon?

Ans- Yes, as per the NMC guidelines, ENT surgeons can become neurosurgeons. The MS ENT and MS Surgery are the eligibility requirements to pursue a specialization in neurosurgery.

Q3. Is ENT a Medicine or surgery specialty?

Ans- ENT is a surgical specialty. Interested medical graduates can pursue MS ENT after completing their MBBS and cracking the PG entrance examination.

Q4. What is the average salary of an ENT surgeon in India?

Ans- The average salary of an ENT surgeon is around 10-15 lakhs per annum at the start of their career.