Oral medicine and oral cancer: mandibular resection in oral cancer: 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: mandibular resection in oral cancer

Sample item

A 55-year-old tobacco chewer has a 3-cm ulcerative lesion of the lower alveolus and gingivobuccal sulcus. CT shows tumour eroding the cortex and extending into the marrow of the mandible. Which operation for the primary tumour is appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Segmental mandibulectomy with wide excision

Invasion of the medullary cavity needs a segmental resection because the tumour spreads in marrow. Marginal resection is only for cortical involvement or periosteal contact.

Option by option

  • A. Wide soft-tissue excision with bone preserved

    Preserving bone leaves tumour behind.

  • B. Segmental mandibulectomy with wide excision (correct)

    Correct. Marrow invasion requires removal of a segment of bone.

  • C. Marginal mandibulectomy

    Marginal resection leaves marrow that may contain tumour.

  • D. Radiotherapy alone

    Radiotherapy alone is not curative for bone-invading tumour.

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 Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, Segmental mandibulectomy with wide excision. Invasion of the medullary cavity needs a segmental resection because the tumour spreads in marrow.

Why is "Wide soft-tissue excision with bone preserved" not the answer?

Preserving bone leaves tumour behind.

Why is "Marginal mandibulectomy" not the answer?

Marginal resection leaves marrow that may contain tumour.

Why is "Radiotherapy alone" not the answer?

Radiotherapy alone is not curative for bone-invading tumour.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: mandibular resection in oral cancer in Dentistry. Marginal resection is only for cortical involvement or periosteal contact.

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: mandibular resection in oral cancer?

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.