Pigmentary disorders: Laugier-Hunziker syndrome: 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 · Pigmentary disorders: Laugier-Hunziker syndrome

Sample item

A 45-year-old woman has multiple asymptomatic brown macules on the lips and buccal mucosa, with longitudinal brown streaks in several nails. She has no gastrointestinal symptoms, family history, endocrine disease or drug exposure. Which diagnosis is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Laugier-Hunziker syndrome

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is an acquired benign mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation of the lips and oral mucosa, often with longitudinal melanonychia, appearing in adulthood with no systemic association. It is a diagnosis of exclusion after Peutz-Jeghers, Addison disease and drug causes have been excluded, and nail streaks need melanoma consideration.

Option by option

  • A. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

    Peutz-Jeghers begins in childhood, has a family history and gastrointestinal polyps.

  • B. Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Acquired lip and oral macules with melanonychia and no systemic disease fit Laugier-Hunziker syndrome.

  • C. Addison disease

    Addison disease gives generalised pigmentation with weakness, hypotension and electrolyte changes.

  • D. Cronkhite-Canada syndrome

    Cronkhite-Canada syndrome has diarrhoea, protein loss, alopecia and polyps with nail atrophy.

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 B, Laugier-Hunziker syndrome. Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is an acquired benign mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation of the lips and oral mucosa, often with longitudinal melanonychia, appearing in adulthood with no systemic association.

Why is "Peutz-Jeghers syndrome" not the answer?

Peutz-Jeghers begins in childhood, has a family history and gastrointestinal polyps.

Why is "Addison disease" not the answer?

Addison disease gives generalised pigmentation with weakness, hypotension and electrolyte changes.

Why is "Cronkhite-Canada syndrome" not the answer?

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome has diarrhoea, protein loss, alopecia and polyps with nail atrophy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pigmentary disorders: Laugier-Hunziker syndrome in Dermatology. It is a diagnosis of exclusion after Peutz-Jeghers, Addison disease and drug causes have been excluded, and nail streaks need melanoma consideration.

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 Pigmentary disorders: Laugier-Hunziker syndrome?

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.