Connective tissue 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 · Connective tissue disease

Sample item

A 50-year-old woman has a violaceous rash over the upper eyelids, scaly erythematous papules over the knuckles and progressive difficulty climbing stairs. What should be done besides confirming the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Screen for an underlying malignancy

Heliotrope rash and Gottron's papules with proximal muscle weakness indicate dermatomyositis. In adults it carries an increased risk of an associated malignancy, such as ovarian, lung and breast cancer, so age-appropriate screening is needed. Treatment is with corticosteroids and steroid-sparing agents.

Option by option

  • A. Check the patient for pemphigus antibodies

    Pemphigus antibodies are unrelated to this presentation.

  • B. Test for HLA-B27

    HLA-B27 is linked to spondyloarthropathies.

  • C. Start oral isotretinoin

    Isotretinoin is for acne and has no role.

  • D. Screen for an underlying malignancy (correct)

    Correct. Adult dermatomyositis is a paraneoplastic risk, particularly in the first few years.

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 D, Screen for an underlying malignancy. Heliotrope rash and Gottron's papules with proximal muscle weakness indicate dermatomyositis.

Why is "Check the patient for pemphigus antibodies" not the answer?

Pemphigus antibodies are unrelated to this presentation.

Why is "Test for HLA-B27" not the answer?

HLA-B27 is linked to spondyloarthropathies.

Why is "Start oral isotretinoin" not the answer?

Isotretinoin is for acne and has no role.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Connective tissue disease in Dermatology. In adults it carries an increased risk of an associated malignancy, such as ovarian, lung and breast cancer, so age-appropriate screening is needed. Treatment is with corticosteroids and steroid-sparing agents.

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 Connective tissue 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.