Oral medicine and oral cancer: erythema multiforme: 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 medicine and oral cancer: erythema multiforme

Sample item

A young man develops painful haemorrhagic, crusted lips and widespread oral erosions a week after a cold sore. He also has target-shaped lesions on the palms. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Erythema multiforme

Erythema multiforme is a hypersensitivity reaction commonly triggered by herpes simplex or drugs. It produces target lesions on the skin, with bloody, crusted lips and mucosal erosions, and it is self-limiting in the minor form.

Option by option

  • A. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

    Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is a first-exposure infection in young children with gingival swelling.

  • B. Pemphigus vulgaris

    Pemphigus vulgaris does not produce targetoid lesions and runs a chronic course.

  • C. Behcet disease

    Behcet disease features recurrent oral and genital ulcers and uveitis rather than target lesions.

  • D. Erythema multiforme (correct)

    Correct. Target lesions with haemorrhagic crusted lips after herpes simplex point to erythema multiforme.

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, Erythema multiforme. Erythema multiforme is a hypersensitivity reaction commonly triggered by herpes simplex or drugs.

Why is "Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis" not the answer?

Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is a first-exposure infection in young children with gingival swelling.

Why is "Pemphigus vulgaris" not the answer?

Pemphigus vulgaris does not produce targetoid lesions and runs a chronic course.

Why is "Behcet disease" not the answer?

Behcet disease features recurrent oral and genital ulcers and uveitis rather than target lesions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: erythema multiforme in Dentistry. It produces target lesions on the skin, with bloody, crusted lips and mucosal erosions, and it is self-limiting in the minor form.

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 medicine and oral cancer: erythema multiforme?

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.