Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: nasolabial 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: nasolabial cyst

Sample item

A 40-year-old woman has a painless swelling of the upper lip lateral to the midline that lifts the ala of the nose and fills the nasal vestibule floor. Neighbouring teeth are vital and the film shows no bony lesion. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Nasolabial cyst

The nasolabial (nasoalveolar) cyst is a soft tissue developmental cyst, thought to arise from the nasolacrimal duct or embryonic fissural epithelium. It elevates the ala nasi and obliterates the nasolabial fold, and it is excised through an intraoral approach.

Option by option

  • A. Dentigerous cyst

    A dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth in bone.

  • B. Radicular cyst

    A radicular cyst arises from a non-vital tooth and produces a bony radiolucency.

  • C. Nasopalatine duct cyst

    A nasopalatine duct cyst lies in the midline of the palate and shows a radiolucency in bone.

  • D. Nasolabial cyst (correct)

    Correct. A soft tissue cyst lifting the ala with no bone lesion is nasolabial.

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, Nasolabial cyst. The nasolabial (nasoalveolar) cyst is a soft tissue developmental cyst, thought to arise from the nasolacrimal duct or embryonic fissural epithelium.

Why is "Dentigerous cyst" not the answer?

A dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth in bone.

Why is "Radicular cyst" not the answer?

A radicular cyst arises from a non-vital tooth and produces a bony radiolucency.

Why is "Nasopalatine duct cyst" not the answer?

A nasopalatine duct cyst lies in the midline of the palate and shows a radiolucency in bone.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: nasolabial cyst in Dentistry. It elevates the ala nasi and obliterates the nasolabial fold, and it is excised through an intraoral approach.

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 Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: nasolabial 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.