Pigmentary disorders: naevus anaemicus: 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 · Pigmentary disorders: naevus anaemicus

Sample item

A child has a pale patch on the chest that becomes indistinct when the skin is rubbed, and the surrounding skin flushes but the patch stays pale. Diascopy erases the border. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Naevus anaemicus

Naevus anaemicus is a vascular hamartoma with localised hypersensitivity to catecholamines, so vessels remain constricted and the patch looks pale. Pressure with a glass slide (diascopy) makes the border disappear and rubbing fails to induce erythema. Pigmentation is normal.

Option by option

  • A. Naevus anaemicus (correct)

    Correct. Disappearance of the border on diascopy indicates naevus anaemicus.

  • B. Naevus depigmentosus

    Naevus depigmentosus is a pigment disorder and diascopy does not erase it.

  • C. Tuberculoid leprosy

    Tuberculoid leprosy has sensory loss.

  • D. Vitiligo

    Vitiligo patches remain depigmented under diascopy.

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 A, Naevus anaemicus. Naevus anaemicus is a vascular hamartoma with localised hypersensitivity to catecholamines, so vessels remain constricted and the patch looks pale.

Why is "Naevus depigmentosus" not the answer?

Naevus depigmentosus is a pigment disorder and diascopy does not erase it.

Why is "Tuberculoid leprosy" not the answer?

Tuberculoid leprosy has sensory loss.

Why is "Vitiligo" not the answer?

Vitiligo patches remain depigmented under diascopy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pigmentary disorders: naevus anaemicus in Dermatology. Pressure with a glass slide (diascopy) makes the border disappear and rubbing fails to induce erythema. Pigmentation is normal.

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 Pigmentary disorders: naevus anaemicus?

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.