Oral medicine and oral cancer: Plummer-Vinson 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: Plummer-Vinson syndrome

Sample item

A middle-aged woman has iron deficiency anaemia, dysphagia due to an upper oesophageal web and a smooth atrophic tongue. Which oral cancer risk is increased?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and hypopharynx

Plummer-Vinson syndrome combines iron deficiency, post-cricoid web and glossitis, and increases the risk of squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus. Iron replacement treats the anaemia and web.

Option by option

  • A. Osteosarcoma of the jaw

    Osteosarcoma is unrelated to iron deficiency.

  • B. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and hypopharynx (correct)

    Correct. The syndrome predisposes to squamous cell carcinoma.

  • C. Ameloblastoma

    Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumour with no relation to the syndrome.

  • D. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

    Salivary tumours are not related to iron deficiency.

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 B, Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and hypopharynx. Plummer-Vinson syndrome combines iron deficiency, post-cricoid web and glossitis, and increases the risk of squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus.

Why is "Osteosarcoma of the jaw" not the answer?

Osteosarcoma is unrelated to iron deficiency.

Why is "Ameloblastoma" not the answer?

Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumour with no relation to the syndrome.

Why is "Mucoepidermoid carcinoma" not the answer?

Salivary tumours are not related to iron deficiency.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: Plummer-Vinson syndrome in Dentistry. Iron replacement treats the anaemia and web.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: Plummer-Vinson 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.