Oral medicine: oral hairy leukoplakia: 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: oral hairy leukoplakia

Sample item

A patient with HIV has a corrugated white lesion of the lateral tongue that cannot be scraped off. What is the likely cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Epstein-Barr virus

Oral hairy leukoplakia is an EBV-driven lesion on the lateral tongue in immunosuppressed people, especially with HIV. It does not scrape off and is not itself premalignant.

Option by option

  • A. Candida albicans

    Candidiasis wipes off.

  • B. Herpes simplex virus

    HSV causes vesicles and ulcers.

  • C. Human papillomavirus type 16

    HPV 16 is linked with oropharyngeal carcinoma.

  • D. Epstein-Barr virus (correct)

    Correct. EBV replication causes hairy leukoplakia.

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 D, Epstein-Barr virus. Oral hairy leukoplakia is an EBV-driven lesion on the lateral tongue in immunosuppressed people, especially with HIV.

Why is "Candida albicans" not the answer?

Candidiasis wipes off.

Why is "Herpes simplex virus" not the answer?

HSV causes vesicles and ulcers.

Why is "Human papillomavirus type 16" not the answer?

HPV 16 is linked with oropharyngeal carcinoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine: oral hairy leukoplakia in Dentistry. It does not scrape off and is not itself premalignant.

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: oral hairy leukoplakia?

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.