Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: ossifying fibroma: 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 pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: ossifying fibroma

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has slow painless expansion of the mandible in the premolar region. A radiograph shows a well-defined, corticated lesion with a mixed radiolucent and radiopaque centre, and it shells out cleanly at surgery. What is the best treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Enucleation with curettage

Ossifying fibroma is a true benign neoplasm with a distinct capsule-like margin, so it can be enucleated. Fibrous dysplasia blends into normal bone and is only recontoured if needed.

Option by option

  • A. Radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy has no role and risks osteoradionecrosis.

  • B. Segmental resection with wide margins

    Wide resection is excessive for a benign, well-circumscribed lesion.

  • C. Enucleation with curettage (correct)

    Correct. A well-demarcated ossifying fibroma shells out and recurrence is uncommon.

  • D. Conservative recontouring only, as for fibrous dysplasia

    Recontouring is for fibrous dysplasia, which has no clear border and is not enucleated.

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 C, Enucleation with curettage. Ossifying fibroma is a true benign neoplasm with a distinct capsule-like margin, so it can be enucleated.

Why is "Radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy has no role and risks osteoradionecrosis.

Why is "Segmental resection with wide margins" not the answer?

Wide resection is excessive for a benign, well-circumscribed lesion.

Why is "Conservative recontouring only, as for fibrous dysplasia" not the answer?

Recontouring is for fibrous dysplasia, which has no clear border and is not enucleated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: ossifying fibroma in Dentistry. Fibrous dysplasia blends into normal bone and is only recontoured if needed.

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 Oral pathology: cysts and odontogenic tumours: ossifying fibroma?

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.