Oral medicine and oral cancer: lichen planus association: 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: lichen planus association

Sample item

A woman has bilateral reticular white striae with a few erosions on the buccal mucosa. Which infection is worth testing for in this setting?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Hepatitis C

Oral lichen planus is associated with chronic hepatitis C infection in some populations, so liver function and hepatitis C serology are reasonable. Drug reactions and amalgam contact are other causes of lichenoid reactions.

Option by option

  • A. Hepatitis A

    Hepatitis A is self-limiting and has no known link with lichen planus.

  • B. Infectious mononucleosis

    Mononucleosis causes palatal petechiae and pharyngitis, not reticular striae.

  • C. Hepatitis C (correct)

    Correct. Hepatitis C is the infection linked to lichen planus.

  • D. Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis causes ulceration with caseation and is not associated with lichen planus.

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 C, Hepatitis C. Oral lichen planus is associated with chronic hepatitis C infection in some populations, so liver function and hepatitis C serology are reasonable.

Why is "Hepatitis A" not the answer?

Hepatitis A is self-limiting and has no known link with lichen planus.

Why is "Infectious mononucleosis" not the answer?

Mononucleosis causes palatal petechiae and pharyngitis, not reticular striae.

Why is "Tuberculosis" not the answer?

Tuberculosis causes ulceration with caseation and is not associated with lichen planus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: lichen planus association in Dentistry. Drug reactions and amalgam contact are other causes of lichenoid reactions.

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: lichen planus association?

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.