Oral medicine and oral cancer: biopsy technique: 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: biopsy technique

Sample item

A 55-year-old tobacco chewer has a 1.5 cm indurated ulcer on the lateral tongue that has not healed for 4 weeks. What is the best next step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Incisional biopsy from the edge including adjacent normal mucosa

A non-healing ulcer longer than 3 weeks is cancer until proven otherwise. An incisional biopsy from the margin, avoiding necrotic centre, gives the diagnosis.

Option by option

  • A. Cryotherapy of the ulcer

    Cryotherapy would destroy tissue without a diagnosis.

  • B. Incisional biopsy from the edge including adjacent normal mucosa (correct)

    Correct. Tissue diagnosis from the edge is essential.

  • C. A trial of oral antibiotics only

    Antibiotics may be added but will not exclude cancer.

  • D. Observation for 3 more months

    Delaying for months risks progression of a probable carcinoma.

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, Incisional biopsy from the edge including adjacent normal mucosa. A non-healing ulcer longer than 3 weeks is cancer until proven otherwise.

Why is "Cryotherapy of the ulcer" not the answer?

Cryotherapy would destroy tissue without a diagnosis.

Why is "A trial of oral antibiotics only" not the answer?

Antibiotics may be added but will not exclude cancer.

Why is "Observation for 3 more months" not the answer?

Delaying for months risks progression of a probable carcinoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: biopsy technique in Dentistry. An incisional biopsy from the margin, avoiding necrotic centre, gives the diagnosis.

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: biopsy technique?

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.