Pigment disorders: 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 · Pigment disorders

Sample item

A patient has sharply demarcated milk-white patches caused by loss of functional melanocytes; which diagnosis best fits?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Depigmented patches from melanocyte loss

Vitiligo produces well-defined depigmented patches because melanocytes are lost or dysfunctional, leaving areas without normal melanin pigment.

Option by option

  • A. Raised scar tissue

    Raised scar tissue is a hypertrophic scar or keloid.

  • B. Fungal skin infection

    Fungal infection commonly produces scale or altered color, not true depigmentation.

  • C. Bacterial abscess

    An abscess is a localized collection of pus.

  • D. Depigmented patches from melanocyte loss (correct)

    Correct: vitiligo reflects loss of melanocyte pigment production.

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 D, Depigmented patches from melanocyte loss. Vitiligo produces well-defined depigmented patches because melanocytes are lost or dysfunctional, leaving areas without normal melanin pigment.

Why is "Raised scar tissue" not the answer?

Raised scar tissue is a hypertrophic scar or keloid.

Why is "Fungal skin infection" not the answer?

Fungal infection commonly produces scale or altered color, not true depigmentation.

Why is "Bacterial abscess" not the answer?

An abscess is a localized collection of pus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pigment disorders in Dermatology. The correct option holds because: Correct: vitiligo reflects loss of melanocyte pigment production.

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 Pigment disorders?

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.