ADAT Oral Pathology & Diagnosis 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which oral lesion presents as a white patch that cannot be wiped off and is considered a potentially malignant disorder?
- Pseudomembranous candidiasis
- Leukoplakia (Correct answer)
- Leukoedema
- Fordyce granules
Correct answer: Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia is a white patch that cannot be wiped off (unlike candidiasis) and carries a 1–17% risk of malignant transformation, requiring biopsy.
Question 2: A patient presents with multiple painful oral ulcers, a vesicular rash on the hands and feet, and fever. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis
- Herpangina
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) (Correct answer)
- Erythema multiforme
Correct answer: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)
HFMD, caused by Coxsackievirus A16, presents with oral ulcers plus vesicular skin lesions on hands and feet, typically in young children.
Question 3: Ameloblastoma is most commonly found in which location?
- Anterior maxilla near the nasal floor
- Posterior mandible in the molar-ramus region (Correct answer)
- Midpalatal region associated with tooth roots
- Anterior mandible between the mental foramina
Correct answer: Posterior mandible in the molar-ramus region
Approximately 80% of ameloblastomas occur in the mandible, with the molar-ramus region being the most common site.
Question 4: Which radiographic finding is characteristic of a dentigerous cyst?
- Periapical radiolucency associated with a non-vital tooth
- Well-defined unilocular radiolucency surrounding the crown of an unerupted tooth (Correct answer)
- Multilocular radiolucency with scalloped borders (soap-bubble appearance)
- Root resorption with lateral radiolucency along the root surface
Correct answer: Well-defined unilocular radiolucency surrounding the crown of an unerupted tooth
A dentigerous cyst forms around the crown of an unerupted tooth, appearing as a well-defined unilocular radiolucency at the cementoenamel junction.
Question 5: A biopsy shows 'squamous epithelium with keratin pearl formation, individual cell keratinization, and intercellular bridges.' What is the diagnosis?
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma
- Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (Correct answer)
- Verrucous carcinoma
Correct answer: Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma
Keratin pearls, individual cell keratinization, and intercellular bridges are classic histologic features of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
Question 6: Which systemic condition is most commonly associated with multiple periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia lesions in African American women?
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Paget's disease of bone
- No systemic disease — it is a benign, reactive condition of unknown cause (Correct answer)
- Fibrous dysplasia
Correct answer: No systemic disease — it is a benign, reactive condition of unknown cause
Periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia (PCOD) is a benign reactive condition with no associated systemic disease; it requires only monitoring, not treatment.
ADAT Oral Pathology & Diagnosis 1
Which oral lesion presents as a white patch that cannot be wiped off and is considered a potentially malignant disorder?