Papulosquamous disorders: ILVEN: 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 · Papulosquamous disorders: ILVEN

Sample item

A child has had a linear, itchy, psoriasiform and verrucous plaque on the left leg since infancy, along Blaschko lines, resistant to topical steroids. What is the expected histological hallmark?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Alternating zones of orthokeratosis and parakeratosis

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal naevus (ILVEN) is a pruritic linear plaque along Blaschko lines, with psoriasiform change and sharply demarcated alternating ortho- and parakeratosis. It resists topical steroids.

Option by option

  • A. Suprabasal acantholysis with dyskeratosis

    Suprabasal acantholysis with dyskeratosis marks Darier disease.

  • B. Civatte bodies with saw-tooth rete ridges

    Civatte bodies and saw-tooth ridges mark lichen planus.

  • C. Alternating zones of orthokeratosis and parakeratosis (correct)

    Correct. Alternating orthokeratosis and parakeratosis is the hallmark of ILVEN.

  • D. Cornoid lamella

    A cornoid lamella marks porokeratosis.

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 C, Alternating zones of orthokeratosis and parakeratosis. Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal naevus (ILVEN) is a pruritic linear plaque along Blaschko lines, with psoriasiform change and sharply demarcated alternating ortho- and parakeratosis.

Why is "Suprabasal acantholysis with dyskeratosis" not the answer?

Suprabasal acantholysis with dyskeratosis marks Darier disease.

Why is "Civatte bodies with saw-tooth rete ridges" not the answer?

Civatte bodies and saw-tooth ridges mark lichen planus.

Why is "Cornoid lamella" not the answer?

A cornoid lamella marks porokeratosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: ILVEN in Dermatology. It resists topical steroids.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: ILVEN?

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.