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Oral Pathology and Radiology Flashcards

7 cards from real NBDE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Oral Pathology and Radiology flashcards as text

  1. A radiolucent lesion with a 'soap bubble' multilocular appearance at the posterior mandible in a young adult is most consistent with:

    Answer: Ameloblastoma

    Ameloblastoma classically presents as a multilocular 'soap bubble' or 'honeycomb' radiolucency, most often in the posterior mandible of adults.

  2. Koilocytes found on cytologic smear are pathognomonic for infection with:

    Answer: Human papillomavirus

    Koilocytes are HPV-infected epithelial cells showing perinuclear clearing (halo) and nuclear enlargement, serving as a hallmark of HPV infection.

  3. On a periapical radiograph, the lamina dura appears as a thin radiopaque line because it represents:

    Answer: Cortical bone lining the alveolar socket

    The lamina dura is dense cortical bone lining the tooth socket, appearing radiopaque due to its compact nature compared to surrounding cancellous bone.

  4. Pindborg tumor (calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor) characteristically shows which radiographic feature?

    Answer: Diffuse 'driven snow' calcifications within a radiolucency

    CEOT (Pindborg tumor) contains amyloid-like material that calcifies, producing scattered 'driven snow' or 'snowflake' opacities within a radiolucent lesion.

  5. A patient presents with multiple radiopaque masses along the jaw resembling condensed bone fused to tooth roots. This most likely represents:

    Answer: Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia

    Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia presents as multiple bilateral, large lobular cemento-osseous masses replacing normal bone, predominantly in Black women.

  6. Erythroplakia of the oral mucosa carries a higher risk of malignant transformation than leukoplakia because:

    Answer: It has a higher rate of severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ at biopsy

    Erythroplakia shows severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or invasive carcinoma in up to 90% of biopsied cases, far exceeding the malignant potential of leukoplakia.

  7. A panoramic radiograph reveals 'step-ladder' trabecular pattern of the mandible. This pattern is associated with:

    Answer: Sickle cell anemia

    Sickle cell anemia causes a 'step-ladder' trabecular pattern on panoramic radiographs due to marrow hyperplasia enlarging medullary spaces between horizontal trabeculae.