Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: residual cyst: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: residual cyst

Sample item

A 55-year-old has a round, well-defined radiolucency in an edentulous area of the mandible where a non-vital molar was extracted 3 years ago, without curettage of the socket. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Residual cyst

A residual cyst is a radicular cyst that was left behind when the causative tooth was extracted. It occurs in an edentulous area and has the same histology as the original radicular cyst. Complete enucleation is the treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Dentigerous cyst

    A dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth.

  • B. Nasopalatine duct cyst

    A nasopalatine duct cyst lies in the anterior midline of the maxilla.

  • C. Stafne bone cavity

    A Stafne cavity lies below the mandibular canal and holds salivary gland tissue.

  • D. Residual cyst (correct)

    Correct. A radicular cyst left after extraction persists as a residual cyst.

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.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Residual cyst. A residual cyst is a radicular cyst that was left behind when the causative tooth was extracted.

Why is "Dentigerous cyst" not the answer?

A dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth.

Why is "Nasopalatine duct cyst" not the answer?

A nasopalatine duct cyst lies in the anterior midline of the maxilla.

Why is "Stafne bone cavity" not the answer?

A Stafne cavity lies below the mandibular canal and holds salivary gland tissue.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: residual cyst in Dentistry. It occurs in an edentulous area and has the same histology as the original radicular cyst. Complete enucleation is the treatment.

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 Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: residual cyst?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.