Skin tumours: topical therapy of superficial basal cell carcinoma: 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 · Skin tumours: topical therapy of superficial basal cell carcinoma

Sample item

A 55-year-old man has a 1.5 cm pink scaly patch on the trunk, and biopsy shows superficial basal cell carcinoma. He declines surgery. Which topical agent is appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Imiquimod 5 percent cream

Imiquimod, a toll-like receptor 7 agonist, induces a local immune response and is licensed for superficial basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis. It is suitable for low-risk superficial lesions on the trunk and limbs. Topical 5-fluorouracil is another option.

Option by option

  • A. Silver sulfadiazine

    Silver sulfadiazine is an antimicrobial for burns and has no antitumour role.

  • B. Podophyllotoxin

    Podophyllotoxin is used for anogenital warts, not skin cancer.

  • C. Imiquimod 5 percent cream (correct)

    Correct. Imiquimod 5 percent is used for low-risk superficial basal cell carcinoma.

  • D. Calcipotriol

    Calcipotriol is a vitamin D analogue used for psoriasis.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Imiquimod 5 percent cream. Imiquimod, a toll-like receptor 7 agonist, induces a local immune response and is licensed for superficial basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis.

Why is "Silver sulfadiazine" not the answer?

Silver sulfadiazine is an antimicrobial for burns and has no antitumour role.

Why is "Podophyllotoxin" not the answer?

Podophyllotoxin is used for anogenital warts, not skin cancer.

Why is "Calcipotriol" not the answer?

Calcipotriol is a vitamin D analogue used for psoriasis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin tumours: topical therapy of superficial basal cell carcinoma in Dermatology. It is suitable for low-risk superficial lesions on the trunk and limbs. Topical 5-fluorouracil is another option.

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 Skin tumours: topical therapy of superficial basal cell carcinoma?

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.