Oral medicine and oral cancer: cervicofacial actinomycosis: 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 medicine and oral cancer: cervicofacial actinomycosis

Sample item

A 35-year-old develops a firm swelling at the angle of the mandible 3 weeks after a molar extraction, with multiple discharging sinuses releasing yellow granules. Gram stain shows branching filaments. What is the treatment of choice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Prolonged high-dose penicillin with drainage

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is caused by Actinomyces, an anaerobic Gram-positive filamentous bacterium. It needs weeks of high-dose penicillin and drainage, and metronidazole alone does not work.

Option by option

  • A. Metronidazole alone

    Actinomyces is resistant to metronidazole.

  • B. Antitubercular therapy

    Sulphur granules and branching filaments are not tuberculosis.

  • C. Prolonged high-dose penicillin with drainage (correct)

    Correct. Penicillin for a prolonged course is the treatment.

  • D. Fluconazole

    Actinomyces is a bacterium, so antifungals are not used.

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, Prolonged high-dose penicillin with drainage. Cervicofacial actinomycosis is caused by Actinomyces, an anaerobic Gram-positive filamentous bacterium.

Why is "Metronidazole alone" not the answer?

Actinomyces is resistant to metronidazole.

Why is "Antitubercular therapy" not the answer?

Sulphur granules and branching filaments are not tuberculosis.

Why is "Fluconazole" not the answer?

Actinomyces is a bacterium, so antifungals are not used.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: cervicofacial actinomycosis in Dentistry. It needs weeks of high-dose penicillin and drainage, and metronidazole alone does not work.

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 medicine and oral cancer: cervicofacial actinomycosis?

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.