Oral pathology: ranula: 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: ranula

Sample item

A child has a bluish translucent fluctuant swelling lateral to the frenulum in the floor of the mouth. What is the likely lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ranula

A ranula is a mucus extravasation or retention cyst of the sublingual gland. A plunging ranula extends into the neck through the mylohyoid. Treatment is excision of the gland with the cyst.

Option by option

  • A. Ranula (correct)

    Correct. Blue translucent floor-of-mouth swelling suggests ranula.

  • B. Thyroglossal cyst

    Thyroglossal cysts lie in the midline of the neck.

  • C. Dermoid cyst

    Dermoid cysts are midline and doughy.

  • D. Cystic hygroma

    Cystic hygroma is a lymphatic malformation of the neck.

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 A, Ranula. A ranula is a mucus extravasation or retention cyst of the sublingual gland.

Why is "Thyroglossal cyst" not the answer?

Thyroglossal cysts lie in the midline of the neck.

Why is "Dermoid cyst" not the answer?

Dermoid cysts are midline and doughy.

Why is "Cystic hygroma" not the answer?

Cystic hygroma is a lymphatic malformation of the neck.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: ranula in Dentistry. A plunging ranula extends into the neck through the mylohyoid. Treatment is excision of the gland with the cyst.

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: ranula?

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.