Oral medicine and oral cancer: actinic cheilitis: 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.

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Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: actinic cheilitis

Sample item

A 62-year-old farmer has a scaly, atrophic lower lip with loss of the sharp line between vermilion and skin and a small non-healing crust. Which condition is this, and what is its main cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Actinic cheilitis due to chronic ultraviolet exposure

Actinic cheilitis is a potentially malignant change of the lower lip vermilion caused by long-term sun exposure. It shows dryness, scaling, atrophy and blurring of the vermilion border and may progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Sun protection and biopsy of any ulcer or induration are advised.

Option by option

  • A. Cheilitis glandularis due to minor salivary hyperplasia

    Cheilitis glandularis shows enlarged, inflamed minor gland openings with mucus secretion.

  • B. Exfoliative cheilitis due to lip-licking habit

    Exfoliative cheilitis shows persistent peeling of keratin and does not blur the border in this way.

  • C. Actinic cheilitis due to chronic ultraviolet exposure (correct)

    Correct. Chronic solar damage of the lower lip is a premalignant condition.

  • D. Angular cheilitis due to candidal infection

    Angular cheilitis affects the corners of the mouth, not the whole vermilion.

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 Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Actinic cheilitis due to chronic ultraviolet exposure. Actinic cheilitis is a potentially malignant change of the lower lip vermilion caused by long-term sun exposure.

Why is "Cheilitis glandularis due to minor salivary hyperplasia" not the answer?

Cheilitis glandularis shows enlarged, inflamed minor gland openings with mucus secretion.

Why is "Exfoliative cheilitis due to lip-licking habit" not the answer?

Exfoliative cheilitis shows persistent peeling of keratin and does not blur the border in this way.

Why is "Angular cheilitis due to candidal infection" not the answer?

Angular cheilitis affects the corners of the mouth, not the whole vermilion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: actinic cheilitis in Dentistry. It shows dryness, scaling, atrophy and blurring of the vermilion border and may progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Sun protection and biopsy of any ulcer or induration are advised.

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 medicine and oral cancer: actinic cheilitis?

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.