Papulosquamous disorders: pseudopelade of Brocq: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: pseudopelade of Brocq

Sample item

A 38-year-old woman has several small, smooth, ivory-white atrophic patches on the scalp. There is no erythema, scaling or follicular plugging, and the patches resemble footprints in snow. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pseudopelade of Brocq

Pseudopelade of Brocq is a slowly progressive scarring alopecia with small smooth atrophic patches and little inflammation. Because follicles are destroyed, hair does not regrow.

Option by option

  • A. Alopecia areata

    Alopecia areata is non-scarring, with exclamation-mark hairs and follicular openings intact.

  • B. Trichotillomania

    Trichotillomania gives irregular patches with broken hairs of differing lengths.

  • C. Kerion

    A kerion is a boggy inflamed scalp swelling from tinea capitis.

  • D. Pseudopelade of Brocq (correct)

    Correct. Non-inflammatory ivory scarred patches are typical of pseudopelade.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Pseudopelade of Brocq. Pseudopelade of Brocq is a slowly progressive scarring alopecia with small smooth atrophic patches and little inflammation.

Why is "Alopecia areata" not the answer?

Alopecia areata is non-scarring, with exclamation-mark hairs and follicular openings intact.

Why is "Trichotillomania" not the answer?

Trichotillomania gives irregular patches with broken hairs of differing lengths.

Why is "Kerion" not the answer?

A kerion is a boggy inflamed scalp swelling from tinea capitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: pseudopelade of Brocq in Dermatology. Because follicles are destroyed, hair does not regrow.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: pseudopelade of Brocq?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.