Papulosquamous disorders: Wells 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: Wells syndrome

Sample item

A woman has recurrent itchy, burning cellulitis-like plaques on the limbs with no fever, no response to antibiotics and eosinophilia. Biopsy shows a dense dermal eosinophilic infiltrate. Which histological finding is characteristic?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Flame figures

Wells syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis) shows dense dermal eosinophils with flame figures, which are collagen coated by eosinophil granule proteins. It responds to oral steroids and often recurs.

Option by option

  • A. Touton giant cells

    Touton giant cells are in juvenile xanthogranuloma.

  • B. Flame figures (correct)

    Correct. Flame figures are characteristic of Wells syndrome, though not specific.

  • C. Munro microabscesses

    Munro microabscesses are neutrophil collections in the stratum corneum in psoriasis.

  • D. Civatte bodies

    Civatte bodies are apoptotic keratinocytes in lichen planus.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Flame figures. Wells syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis) shows dense dermal eosinophils with flame figures, which are collagen coated by eosinophil granule proteins.

Why is "Touton giant cells" not the answer?

Touton giant cells are in juvenile xanthogranuloma.

Why is "Munro microabscesses" not the answer?

Munro microabscesses are neutrophil collections in the stratum corneum in psoriasis.

Why is "Civatte bodies" not the answer?

Civatte bodies are apoptotic keratinocytes in lichen planus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: Wells syndrome in Dermatology. It responds to oral steroids and often recurs.

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: Wells 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.