Oral cancer: vital staining: 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 cancer: vital staining

Sample item

Which vital stain is used as an adjunct to highlight dysplastic or malignant oral mucosa?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Toluidine blue

Toluidine blue, a nuclear dye, is taken up preferentially by dysplastic and malignant cells with high nuclear content. It helps choose a biopsy site but never replaces biopsy.

Option by option

  • A. Gram stain

    Gram stain classifies bacteria.

  • B. Ziehl-Neelsen stain

    Ziehl-Neelsen stain is for acid-fast bacilli.

  • C. Sudan III

    Sudan III stains lipids.

  • D. Toluidine blue (correct)

    Correct. It is the classic oral vital stain.

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, Toluidine blue. Toluidine blue, a nuclear dye, is taken up preferentially by dysplastic and malignant cells with high nuclear content.

Why is "Gram stain" not the answer?

Gram stain classifies bacteria.

Why is "Ziehl-Neelsen stain" not the answer?

Ziehl-Neelsen stain is for acid-fast bacilli.

Why is "Sudan III" not the answer?

Sudan III stains lipids.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral cancer: vital staining in Dentistry. It helps choose a biopsy site but never replaces biopsy.

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 cancer: vital staining?

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.