STI: meningovascular syphilis: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · STI: meningovascular syphilis

Sample item

A 38-year-old man treated inadequately for a genital sore years ago develops sudden hemiparesis. CSF shows lymphocytic pleocytosis, raised protein and a reactive VDRL. Which form of neurosyphilis is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Meningovascular syphilis

Meningovascular syphilis is an endarteritis of cerebral vessels that causes strokes in young adults, typically 5 to 10 years after infection. Tabes and general paresis appear decades later.

Option by option

  • A. Tabes dorsalis

    Tabes dorsalis causes lightning pains, ataxia and posterior column loss, not an acute stroke.

  • B. Cerebral gumma

    A cerebral gumma is a mass lesion and is rare.

  • C. General paresis

    General paresis causes progressive dementia and behavioural change 15 to 20 years after infection.

  • D. Meningovascular syphilis (correct)

    Correct. Stroke in a young adult with an inflammatory CSF and reactive VDRL fits meningovascular syphilis.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Meningovascular syphilis. Meningovascular syphilis is an endarteritis of cerebral vessels that causes strokes in young adults, typically 5 to 10 years after infection.

Why is "Tabes dorsalis" not the answer?

Tabes dorsalis causes lightning pains, ataxia and posterior column loss, not an acute stroke.

Why is "Cerebral gumma" not the answer?

A cerebral gumma is a mass lesion and is rare.

Why is "General paresis" not the answer?

General paresis causes progressive dementia and behavioural change 15 to 20 years after infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: meningovascular syphilis in Dermatology. Tabes and general paresis appear decades later.

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 STI: meningovascular syphilis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.