Papulosquamous disorders: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome

Sample item

A 60-year-old man has chronic diarrhoea with protein-losing enteropathy, diffuse alopecia, nail atrophy and hyperpigmented macules on the palms. Endoscopy shows numerous gastrointestinal polyps and there is no family history. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cronkhite-Canada syndrome

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is a non-hereditary polyposis of adults with diarrhoea, alopecia, nail changes and hyperpigmentation. Nutritional support and steroids are used.

Option by option

  • A. Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Acquired polyposis with alopecia, nail loss and pigmentation is Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

  • B. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

    Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is hereditary, with perioral lentigines and hamartomatous polyps from youth.

  • C. Cowden syndrome

    Cowden syndrome has trichilemmomas and hamartomas and a family history.

  • D. Gardner syndrome

    Gardner syndrome has adenomatous polyps with osteomas and epidermoid cysts.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is a non-hereditary polyposis of adults with diarrhoea, alopecia, nail changes and hyperpigmentation.

Why is "Peutz-Jeghers syndrome" not the answer?

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is hereditary, with perioral lentigines and hamartomatous polyps from youth.

Why is "Cowden syndrome" not the answer?

Cowden syndrome has trichilemmomas and hamartomas and a family history.

Why is "Gardner syndrome" not the answer?

Gardner syndrome has adenomatous polyps with osteomas and epidermoid cysts.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome in Dermatology. Nutritional support and steroids are used.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome?

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.