Oral medicine: pemphigus vulgaris: 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Oral medicine: pemphigus vulgaris

Sample item

A middle-aged woman has painful oral erosions for months, then flaccid skin blisters with a positive Nikolsky sign. Biopsy shows suprabasal acantholysis. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pemphigus vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease with antibodies to desmoglein 3, causing suprabasal acantholysis. Oral erosions often precede skin lesions. Pemphigoid blisters are subepidermal and tense.

Option by option

  • A. Erythema multiforme

    Erythema multiforme shows target lesions and an acute course.

  • B. Bullous pemphigoid

    Bullous pemphigoid causes subepidermal tense blisters and rarely begins orally.

  • C. Oral lichen planus

    Lichen planus shows lacy striae and has no acantholysis.

  • D. Pemphigus vulgaris (correct)

    Correct. Oral onset and suprabasal split are typical.

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 D, Pemphigus vulgaris. Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease with antibodies to desmoglein 3, causing suprabasal acantholysis.

Why is "Erythema multiforme" not the answer?

Erythema multiforme shows target lesions and an acute course.

Why is "Bullous pemphigoid" not the answer?

Bullous pemphigoid causes subepidermal tense blisters and rarely begins orally.

Why is "Oral lichen planus" not the answer?

Lichen planus shows lacy striae and has no acantholysis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine: pemphigus vulgaris in Dentistry. Oral erosions often precede skin lesions. Pemphigoid blisters are subepidermal and tense.

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: pemphigus vulgaris?

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.