Skin tumours: glomus tumour: 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: glomus tumour

Sample item

A 35-year-old woman has severe paroxysmal pain under a nail, triggered by cold and light touch, with a small bluish spot beneath the nail plate. Which diagnosis fits?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Glomus tumour

Glomus tumour is a benign neoplasm of glomus body cells, presenting as a tiny painful bluish subungual nodule with cold sensitivity and pinpoint tenderness. MRI or ultrasound helps localisation, and surgical excision cures the pain. Subungual melanoma is painless and shows a pigmented band.

Option by option

  • A. Glomus tumour (correct)

    Correct. Cold-triggered paroxysmal subungual pain suggests glomus tumour.

  • B. Onychomycosis

    Onychomycosis is not paroxysmally painful.

  • C. Subungual exostosis

    Subungual exostosis is a bony hard lump that causes lifting of the nail.

  • D. Subungual melanoma

    Subungual melanoma is usually painless with a pigmented streak.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Glomus tumour. Glomus tumour is a benign neoplasm of glomus body cells, presenting as a tiny painful bluish subungual nodule with cold sensitivity and pinpoint tenderness.

Why is "Onychomycosis" not the answer?

Onychomycosis is not paroxysmally painful.

Why is "Subungual exostosis" not the answer?

Subungual exostosis is a bony hard lump that causes lifting of the nail.

Why is "Subungual melanoma" not the answer?

Subungual melanoma is usually painless with a pigmented streak.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin tumours: glomus tumour in Dermatology. MRI or ultrasound helps localisation, and surgical excision cures the pain. Subungual melanoma is painless and shows a pigmented band.

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 Skin tumours: glomus tumour?

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.