Skin tumours: Bowen disease treatment: 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 · Skin tumours: Bowen disease treatment

Sample item

A 70-year-old has a well-demarcated, red, scaly, slowly enlarging plaque on the lower leg. Biopsy shows full-thickness epidermal atypia without invasion. Which is a suitable topical treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Topical fluorouracil

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen disease) may be treated with topical fluorouracil, imiquimod, photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy or excision. Antibacterials and antifungals do not help.

Option by option

  • A. Topical mupirocin

    Mupirocin is an antibacterial.

  • B. Topical fluorouracil (correct)

    Correct. Topical fluorouracil is a recognised treatment for SCC in situ.

  • C. Topical clotrimazole

    Clotrimazole is an antifungal.

  • D. Topical salbutamol

    Salbutamol is a bronchodilator with no role.

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 B, Topical fluorouracil. Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen disease) may be treated with topical fluorouracil, imiquimod, photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy or excision.

Why is "Topical mupirocin" not the answer?

Mupirocin is an antibacterial.

Why is "Topical clotrimazole" not the answer?

Clotrimazole is an antifungal.

Why is "Topical salbutamol" not the answer?

Salbutamol is a bronchodilator with no role.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin tumours: Bowen disease treatment in Dermatology. Antibacterials and antifungals do not help.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Skin tumours: Bowen disease treatment?

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.