Oral medicine and oral cancer: recurrent aphthous ulceration: 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 medicine and oral cancer: recurrent aphthous ulceration

Sample item

A 25-year-old has recurrent oral ulcers larger than 1 cm that last for weeks and heal with scarring. They are most frequent on the soft palate and lips. Which variant of aphthous stomatitis is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Major aphthous ulcers (Sutton disease)

Major aphthae are deep ulcers over 1 cm that persist for weeks and scar. Minor aphthae are under 1 cm and heal within about 2 weeks without scarring, and herpetiform ulcers are tiny and numerous.

Option by option

  • A. Minor aphthous ulcers

    Minor aphthae are under 1 cm and heal without scarring.

  • B. Major aphthous ulcers (Sutton disease) (correct)

    Correct. Large, deep, slowly healing and scarring ulcers define the major type.

  • C. Herpetiform ulcers

    Herpetiform ulcers are 1 to 3 mm and occur in crops.

  • D. Behcet ulcers with genital involvement

    Behcet disease needs genital or eye lesions, which this patient lacks.

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 B, Major aphthous ulcers (Sutton disease). Major aphthae are deep ulcers over 1 cm that persist for weeks and scar.

Why is "Minor aphthous ulcers" not the answer?

Minor aphthae are under 1 cm and heal without scarring.

Why is "Herpetiform ulcers" not the answer?

Herpetiform ulcers are 1 to 3 mm and occur in crops.

Why is "Behcet ulcers with genital involvement" not the answer?

Behcet disease needs genital or eye lesions, which this patient lacks.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: recurrent aphthous ulceration in Dentistry. Minor aphthae are under 1 cm and heal within about 2 weeks without scarring, and herpetiform ulcers are tiny and numerous.

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 and oral cancer: recurrent aphthous ulceration?

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.