Pigmentary disorders: Carney complex: 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 · Pigmentary disorders: Carney complex

Sample item

A young woman has facial lentigines, epithelioid blue naevi, an atrial myxoma and primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease. Which gene is most often mutated?

ASTK11BPRKAR1ACMEN1DPTEN

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. PRKAR1A

Carney complex is an autosomal dominant syndrome from PRKAR1A mutations. It presents with spotty pigmentation, myxomas of the heart and skin, and endocrine tumours.

Option by option

A. STK11
STK11 mutations cause Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, with mucocutaneous lentigines and GI polyps.
B. PRKAR1A (correct)
Correct. PRKAR1A mutations cause Carney complex.
C. MEN1
MEN1 mutations cause pituitary, parathyroid and pancreatic tumours.
D. PTEN
PTEN mutations cause Cowden syndrome, with trichilemmomas and breast and thyroid cancers.

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.

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, PRKAR1A. Carney complex is an autosomal dominant syndrome from PRKAR1A mutations.

Why is "STK11" not the answer?

STK11 mutations cause Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, with mucocutaneous lentigines and GI polyps.

Why is "MEN1" not the answer?

MEN1 mutations cause pituitary, parathyroid and pancreatic tumours.

Why is "PTEN" not the answer?

PTEN mutations cause Cowden syndrome, with trichilemmomas and breast and thyroid cancers.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pigmentary disorders: Carney complex in Dermatology. It presents with spotty pigmentation, myxomas of the heart and skin, and endocrine tumours.

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 Pigmentary disorders: Carney complex?

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.