Papulosquamous disorders: Grover disease: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: Grover disease

Sample item

An elderly man confined to bed in a hot ward develops a sudden, itchy eruption of discrete red papules on the chest and back. Histology shows focal acantholysis. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Transient acantholytic dermatosis (Grover disease)

Grover disease is a transient acantholytic dermatosis of the trunk in middle-aged and older men, provoked by heat, sweating and bed rest. Treatment is cooling, emollients and topical steroids. It differs from pemphigus by lacking mucosal disease and persistent blisters.

Option by option

  • A. Pemphigus vulgaris

    Pemphigus vulgaris causes flaccid bullae with mucosal erosions.

  • B. Transient acantholytic dermatosis (Grover disease) (correct)

    Correct. Heat-provoked truncal papules with focal acantholysis are typical of Grover disease.

  • C. Scabies

    Scabies would show burrows and involve finger webs and genitals.

  • D. Pityriasis rosea

    Pityriasis rosea follows a herald patch with a Christmas tree pattern.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Transient acantholytic dermatosis (Grover disease). Grover disease is a transient acantholytic dermatosis of the trunk in middle-aged and older men, provoked by heat, sweating and bed rest.

Why is "Pemphigus vulgaris" not the answer?

Pemphigus vulgaris causes flaccid bullae with mucosal erosions.

Why is "Scabies" not the answer?

Scabies would show burrows and involve finger webs and genitals.

Why is "Pityriasis rosea" not the answer?

Pityriasis rosea follows a herald patch with a Christmas tree pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: Grover disease in Dermatology. Treatment is cooling, emollients and topical steroids. It differs from pemphigus by lacking mucosal disease and persistent blisters.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: Grover disease?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.