Oral and maxillofacial surgery: osteoradionecrosis: 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Oral and maxillofacial surgery: osteoradionecrosis

Sample item

A man who had 66 Gy radiotherapy for tonsillar cancer has a lower molar extracted and develops a non-healing exposed necrotic bone area over 3 months. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Osteoradionecrosis

Osteoradionecrosis follows irradiation, which causes hypovascular, hypocellular and hypoxic bone, and is triggered by trauma such as extraction. Prevention uses pre-radiotherapy dental clearance and careful atraumatic technique.

Option by option

  • A. Dry socket

    Dry socket heals within weeks and has no radiation history.

  • B. Osteosarcoma

    Osteosarcoma would show a mass and sunray periosteal reaction.

  • C. Osteoradionecrosis (correct)

    Correct. Irradiated bone with exposed necrosis after extraction fits osteoradionecrosis.

  • D. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis

    Bisphosphonate necrosis needs a history of antiresorptive drugs.

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.

More Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Osteoradionecrosis. Osteoradionecrosis follows irradiation, which causes hypovascular, hypocellular and hypoxic bone, and is triggered by trauma such as extraction.

Why is "Dry socket" not the answer?

Dry socket heals within weeks and has no radiation history.

Why is "Osteosarcoma" not the answer?

Osteosarcoma would show a mass and sunray periosteal reaction.

Why is "Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis" not the answer?

Bisphosphonate necrosis needs a history of antiresorptive drugs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: osteoradionecrosis in Dentistry. Prevention uses pre-radiotherapy dental clearance and careful atraumatic technique.

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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery: osteoradionecrosis?

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.