Oral medicine and oral cancer: immunofluorescence patterns: 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: immunofluorescence patterns

Sample item

A woman has white radiating striae with central atrophic erythema on the buccal mucosa and a facial rash. Direct immunofluorescence shows granular deposits of IgG, IgM and C3 at the basement membrane zone. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Lupus erythematosus

The lupus band test shows granular immunoglobulin and complement deposits at the dermo-epidermal junction in lupus erythematosus. Oral lichen planus shows shaggy fibrinogen at the basement membrane, pemphigoid shows linear deposits, and pemphigus shows intercellular deposits.

Option by option

  • A. Oral lichen planus

    Lichen planus shows shaggy fibrinogen deposition rather than granular immunoglobulin.

  • B. Pemphigus vulgaris

    Pemphigus gives a fishnet intercellular pattern within the epithelium.

  • C. Mucous membrane pemphigoid

    Pemphigoid gives linear IgG and C3 deposits at the basement membrane.

  • D. Lupus erythematosus (correct)

    Correct. Granular IgG, IgM and C3 at the basement membrane with a facial rash indicates lupus erythematosus.

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, Lupus erythematosus. The lupus band test shows granular immunoglobulin and complement deposits at the dermo-epidermal junction in lupus erythematosus.

Why is "Oral lichen planus" not the answer?

Lichen planus shows shaggy fibrinogen deposition rather than granular immunoglobulin.

Why is "Pemphigus vulgaris" not the answer?

Pemphigus gives a fishnet intercellular pattern within the epithelium.

Why is "Mucous membrane pemphigoid" not the answer?

Pemphigoid gives linear IgG and C3 deposits at the basement membrane.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: immunofluorescence patterns in Dentistry. Oral lichen planus shows shaggy fibrinogen at the basement membrane, pemphigoid shows linear deposits, and pemphigus shows intercellular deposits.

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 medicine and oral cancer: immunofluorescence patterns?

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.