Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: lesions mimicking carcinoma: 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: cysts and odontogenic tumours: lesions mimicking carcinoma

Sample item

A 45-year-old smoker develops a painless crater-like ulcer on the posterior hard palate 2 weeks after a palatal anaesthetic injection and dental surgery. Biopsy shows lobular necrosis of minor salivary glands with squamous metaplasia of the ducts and no malignant cells. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Reassure, as it heals spontaneously over weeks

Necrotising sialometaplasia is a self-limiting ischaemic infarct of minor salivary glands that mimics mucoepidermoid or squamous carcinoma clinically and histologically. Once biopsy has confirmed it, only reassurance and observation are needed.

Option by option

  • A. Radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy is not indicated for a benign infarct.

  • B. Long-term systemic steroids

    Steroids do not speed healing and carry risks, so they are unnecessary.

  • C. Reassure, as it heals spontaneously over weeks (correct)

    Correct. It is a benign ischaemic process that heals over several weeks.

  • D. Hemimaxillectomy

    Radical surgery is for carcinoma; the biopsy shows no malignancy.

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 C, Reassure, as it heals spontaneously over weeks. Necrotising sialometaplasia is a self-limiting ischaemic infarct of minor salivary glands that mimics mucoepidermoid or squamous carcinoma clinically and histologically.

Why is "Radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy is not indicated for a benign infarct.

Why is "Long-term systemic steroids" not the answer?

Steroids do not speed healing and carry risks, so they are unnecessary.

Why is "Hemimaxillectomy" not the answer?

Radical surgery is for carcinoma; the biopsy shows no malignancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: lesions mimicking carcinoma in Dentistry. Once biopsy has confirmed it, only reassurance and observation are needed.

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 Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: lesions mimicking carcinoma?

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.