Oral medicine and oral cancer: opportunistic fungal infection: 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: opportunistic fungal infection

Sample item

A 55-year-old with poorly controlled diabetic ketoacidosis has facial pain, nasal discharge and a black necrotic ulcer on the hard palate that does not blanch. Which is the most urgent treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Liposomal amphotericin B with surgical debridement

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis produces a black palatal eschar from angioinvasion. Treatment is correction of the metabolic state, amphotericin B and urgent surgical debridement.

Option by option

  • A. Topical corticosteroid

    Steroids would worsen the fungal invasion.

  • B. Oral fluconazole alone

    Fluconazole has no activity against Mucorales.

  • C. Oral nystatin rinses

    Nystatin rinses treat superficial candidiasis only.

  • D. Liposomal amphotericin B with surgical debridement (correct)

    Correct. Amphotericin and debridement are the standard.

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, Liposomal amphotericin B with surgical debridement. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis produces a black palatal eschar from angioinvasion.

Why is "Topical corticosteroid" not the answer?

Steroids would worsen the fungal invasion.

Why is "Oral fluconazole alone" not the answer?

Fluconazole has no activity against Mucorales.

Why is "Oral nystatin rinses" not the answer?

Nystatin rinses treat superficial candidiasis only.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: opportunistic fungal infection in Dentistry. Treatment is correction of the metabolic state, amphotericin B and urgent surgical debridement.

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 and oral cancer: opportunistic fungal infection?

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.