Skin tumours: lentigo maligna: 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 · Skin tumours: lentigo maligna

Sample item

A 75-year-old has a slowly enlarging irregular brown macule with variegated pigment on the cheek for 8 years. Biopsy shows atypical melanocytes along the basal layer without invasion. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Lentigo maligna (melanoma in situ)

Lentigo maligna is an in situ melanoma on chronically sun-damaged skin, with atypical melanocytes confined to the epidermis. When dermal invasion occurs, it becomes lentigo maligna melanoma. Excision with margins or, in selected patients, topical imiquimod is used.

Option by option

  • A. Lentigo maligna melanoma

    Lentigo maligna melanoma requires dermal invasion.

  • B. Lentigo maligna (melanoma in situ) (correct)

    Correct. Basal atypical melanocytes without invasion define lentigo maligna.

  • C. Seborrhoeic keratosis

    Seborrhoeic keratosis has a stuck-on waxy appearance with horn cysts.

  • D. Solar lentigo

    Solar lentigo shows uniform pigment and benign melanocytes.

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, Lentigo maligna (melanoma in situ). Lentigo maligna is an in situ melanoma on chronically sun-damaged skin, with atypical melanocytes confined to the epidermis.

Why is "Lentigo maligna melanoma" not the answer?

Lentigo maligna melanoma requires dermal invasion.

Why is "Seborrhoeic keratosis" not the answer?

Seborrhoeic keratosis has a stuck-on waxy appearance with horn cysts.

Why is "Solar lentigo" not the answer?

Solar lentigo shows uniform pigment and benign melanocytes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin tumours: lentigo maligna in Dermatology. When dermal invasion occurs, it becomes lentigo maligna melanoma. Excision with margins or, in selected patients, topical imiquimod is used.

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 Skin tumours: lentigo maligna?

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.