Skin cancers: 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Skin cancers

Sample item

A man has a non-healing ulcer with a raised, everted edge that developed on an old burn scar on the leg 25 years after the injury. Biopsy of the edge is most likely to show which tumour?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin's ulcer)

A Marjolin ulcer is a squamous cell carcinoma arising in a chronic wound, burn scar, sinus or venous ulcer after a long latent period. It is more aggressive than ordinary SCC and tends to metastasise to regional nodes, so wide excision with node assessment is needed.

Option by option

  • A. Squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin's ulcer) (correct)

    Correct. Chronic scars and ulcers are the classic site of malignant change to SCC.

  • B. Basal cell carcinoma

    Basal cell carcinoma arises on sun-exposed skin and rarely in scars.

  • C. Malignant melanoma

    Melanoma arises from melanocytes and is not typically in a scar.

  • D. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

    Dermatofibrosarcoma presents as an indurated plaque and not as a chronic ulcer.

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, Squamous cell carcinoma (Marjolin's ulcer). A Marjolin ulcer is a squamous cell carcinoma arising in a chronic wound, burn scar, sinus or venous ulcer after a long latent period.

Why is "Basal cell carcinoma" not the answer?

Basal cell carcinoma arises on sun-exposed skin and rarely in scars.

Why is "Malignant melanoma" not the answer?

Melanoma arises from melanocytes and is not typically in a scar.

Why is "Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans" not the answer?

Dermatofibrosarcoma presents as an indurated plaque and not as a chronic ulcer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin cancers in Dermatology. It is more aggressive than ordinary SCC and tends to metastasise to regional nodes, so wide excision with node assessment is needed.

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 Skin cancers?

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.