Papulosquamous disorders: pityriasis rubra pilaris versus psoriasis: 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: pityriasis rubra pilaris versus psoriasis

Sample item

A 45-year-old has orange-red scaly plaques with sharply demarcated islands of unaffected skin, thick yellow palmoplantar keratoderma and follicular papules on the backs of fingers. Which treatment is most appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Acitretin

These features indicate pityriasis rubra pilaris with islands of sparing, a waxy keratoderma and follicular papules. Oral retinoids such as acitretin are the preferred first-line systemic treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Acitretin (correct)

    Correct. Oral retinoids such as acitretin are first-line in PRP.

  • B. Oral antihistamines alone

    Antihistamines alone do not treat the disease.

  • C. Topical antifungal

    A topical antifungal does not help a keratinisation disorder.

  • D. Oral antibiotics

    Oral antibiotics have no effect on a non-infectious papulosquamous disease.

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 A, Acitretin. These features indicate pityriasis rubra pilaris with islands of sparing, a waxy keratoderma and follicular papules.

Why is "Oral antihistamines alone" not the answer?

Antihistamines alone do not treat the disease.

Why is "Topical antifungal" not the answer?

A topical antifungal does not help a keratinisation disorder.

Why is "Oral antibiotics" not the answer?

Oral antibiotics have no effect on a non-infectious papulosquamous disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: pityriasis rubra pilaris versus psoriasis in Dermatology. Oral retinoids such as acitretin are the preferred first-line systemic treatment.

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: pityriasis rubra pilaris versus psoriasis?

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.