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 bordered milk-white patches without scale, caused by loss of functional melanocytes rather than inflammation. Which diagnosis best fits this presentation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder caused by loss of functional melanocytes, producing sharply demarcated white patches that may have substantial cosmetic and psychosocial effects.

Option by option

  • A. Impetigo

    Impetigo is a superficial bacterial infection with erosions and crusting.

  • B. Hidradenitis suppurativa

    Hidradenitis suppurativa causes painful inflammatory nodules in intertriginous skin.

  • C. Tinea versicolor

    Tinea versicolor usually causes fine scale and altered, not truly depigmented, pigment.

  • D. Vitiligo (correct)

    Correct: melanocyte loss causing sharply demarcated depigmentation indicates vitiligo.

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 D, Vitiligo. Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder caused by loss of functional melanocytes, producing sharply demarcated white patches that may have substantial cosmetic and psychosocial effects.

Why is "Impetigo" not the answer?

Impetigo is a superficial bacterial infection with erosions and crusting.

Why is "Hidradenitis suppurativa" not the answer?

Hidradenitis suppurativa causes painful inflammatory nodules in intertriginous skin.

Why is "Tinea versicolor" not the answer?

Tinea versicolor usually causes fine scale and altered, not truly depigmented, pigment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pigment disorders in Dermatology. The correct option holds because: Correct: melanocyte loss causing sharply demarcated depigmentation indicates vitiligo.

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.