Oral medicine and oral cancer: coeliac disease and enamel: 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: coeliac disease and enamel

Sample item

A child with iron-deficiency anaemia, chronic diarrhoea and recurrent aphthae has symmetrical enamel defects of the permanent teeth. Which investigation is the most useful screening test?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA

Coeliac disease can cause symmetrical enamel defects, recurrent aphthous ulcers and iron deficiency. Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA is the preferred serological screen, confirmed by duodenal biopsy.

Option by option

  • A. Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (correct)

    Correct. Anti-tTG IgA screens for coeliac disease.

  • B. Antinuclear antibody

    ANA is used in connective tissue disease and is not specific to this picture.

  • C. Sweat chloride test

    Sweat chloride is a test for cystic fibrosis.

  • D. HLA-B27 typing

    HLA-B27 is associated with spondyloarthropathies.

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.

More Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is A, Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA. Coeliac disease can cause symmetrical enamel defects, recurrent aphthous ulcers and iron deficiency.

Why is "Antinuclear antibody" not the answer?

ANA is used in connective tissue disease and is not specific to this picture.

Why is "Sweat chloride test" not the answer?

Sweat chloride is a test for cystic fibrosis.

Why is "HLA-B27 typing" not the answer?

HLA-B27 is associated with spondyloarthropathies.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: coeliac disease and enamel in Dentistry. Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA is the preferred serological screen, confirmed by duodenal biopsy.

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: coeliac disease and enamel?

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.