Oral medicine and oral cancer: burning mouth syndrome: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: burning mouth syndrome

Sample item

A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman reports a constant burning sensation of the tongue for 6 months. The mucosa looks normal and blood tests are normal. What is the likely diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion in middle-aged women, with burning of an apparently normal mucosa. Organic causes such as deficiency, candidiasis and drugs must be excluded first.

Option by option

  • A. Oral lichen planus

    Lichen planus has visible white striae or erosions.

  • B. Pernicious anaemia glossitis

    Pernicious anaemia causes a smooth red tongue and abnormal blood tests.

  • C. Burning mouth syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Normal mucosa with burning in a postmenopausal woman fits this syndrome.

  • D. Candidiasis

    Candidiasis has visible plaques or erythema, and tests would be positive.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Burning mouth syndrome. Burning mouth syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion in middle-aged women, with burning of an apparently normal mucosa.

Why is "Oral lichen planus" not the answer?

Lichen planus has visible white striae or erosions.

Why is "Pernicious anaemia glossitis" not the answer?

Pernicious anaemia causes a smooth red tongue and abnormal blood tests.

Why is "Candidiasis" not the answer?

Candidiasis has visible plaques or erythema, and tests would be positive.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: burning mouth syndrome in Dentistry. Organic causes such as deficiency, candidiasis and drugs must be excluded first.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Oral medicine and oral cancer: burning mouth syndrome?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.