Oral medicine: leukaemic gingival enlargement: 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: leukaemic gingival enlargement

Sample item

A child with fever and pallor has swollen, bleeding gingival tissue infiltrated by blasts. Which leukaemia is classically associated with gingival infiltration?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Acute myeloid leukaemia, monocytic types (M4 and M5)

Monocytic (M4 and M5) acute myeloid leukaemia infiltrates the gingiva and skin, causing swollen friable bleeding gums. Gingival changes may be the first sign.

Option by option

  • A. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

    CLL occurs in older adults, not children.

  • B. Acute myeloid leukaemia, monocytic types (M4 and M5) (correct)

    Correct. Monocytic AML commonly infiltrates gingiva.

  • C. Hodgkin lymphoma

    Hodgkin lymphoma is not a leukaemia.

  • D. Chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase

    Chronic phase CML rarely causes gingival infiltration.

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 B, Acute myeloid leukaemia, monocytic types (M4 and M5). Monocytic (M4 and M5) acute myeloid leukaemia infiltrates the gingiva and skin, causing swollen friable bleeding gums.

Why is "Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia" not the answer?

CLL occurs in older adults, not children.

Why is "Hodgkin lymphoma" not the answer?

Hodgkin lymphoma is not a leukaemia.

Why is "Chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase" not the answer?

Chronic phase CML rarely causes gingival infiltration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine: leukaemic gingival enlargement in Dentistry. Gingival changes may be the first sign.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: leukaemic gingival enlargement?

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.