Skin tumours: Bazex syndrome: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Skin tumours: Bazex syndrome

Sample item

A 60-year-old smoker has violaceous psoriasiform plaques on the fingers, toes, ears and nose, with nail dystrophy, resistant to treatment. What further evaluation is most important?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Search for a squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract

Bazex syndrome (acrokeratosis paraneoplastica) is a psoriasiform eruption of the acral sites and ears and nose, in association with squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. The rash improves when the tumour is treated.

Option by option

  • A. Search for a squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (correct)

    Correct. Bazex syndrome is linked to head, neck and upper aerodigestive squamous carcinoma.

  • B. Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer

    Colorectal cancer is not the tumour associated with Bazex syndrome.

  • C. Serum PSA for prostate cancer

    PSA does not evaluate this paraneoplastic dermatosis.

  • D. Mammography for breast cancer

    Mammography is not the usual associated cancer in a smoker with acral psoriasiform plaques.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Search for a squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Bazex syndrome (acrokeratosis paraneoplastica) is a psoriasiform eruption of the acral sites and ears and nose, in association with squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Why is "Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer" not the answer?

Colorectal cancer is not the tumour associated with Bazex syndrome.

Why is "Serum PSA for prostate cancer" not the answer?

PSA does not evaluate this paraneoplastic dermatosis.

Why is "Mammography for breast cancer" not the answer?

Mammography is not the usual associated cancer in a smoker with acral psoriasiform plaques.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin tumours: Bazex syndrome in Dermatology. The rash improves when the tumour is treated.

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 Skin tumours: Bazex syndrome?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.