Oral pathology: ameloblastoma: 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 pathology: ameloblastoma

Sample item

A 35-year-old has a slowly growing painless swelling of the mandibular angle. Radiograph shows a multilocular soap-bubble radiolucency with root resorption. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is the commonest clinically significant odontogenic tumour, usually in the posterior mandible, and gives a multilocular soap-bubble or honeycomb picture. It is benign but locally aggressive and needs adequate surgical margins.

Option by option

  • A. Chronic osteomyelitis

    Osteomyelitis shows pain, sequestra and moth-eaten bone.

  • B. Periapical cyst

    A periapical cyst is unilocular and related to a non-vital tooth apex.

  • C. Ameloblastoma (correct)

    Correct. The site and radiographic pattern are classic.

  • D. Cementoblastoma

    Cementoblastoma is a radiopaque mass fused to a tooth root.

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 C, Ameloblastoma. Ameloblastoma is the commonest clinically significant odontogenic tumour, usually in the posterior mandible, and gives a multilocular soap-bubble or honeycomb picture.

Why is "Chronic osteomyelitis" not the answer?

Osteomyelitis shows pain, sequestra and moth-eaten bone.

Why is "Periapical cyst" not the answer?

A periapical cyst is unilocular and related to a non-vital tooth apex.

Why is "Cementoblastoma" not the answer?

Cementoblastoma is a radiopaque mass fused to a tooth root.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: ameloblastoma in Dentistry. It is benign but locally aggressive and needs adequate surgical margins.

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 pathology: ameloblastoma?

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.