FMGE 2019 — Dental

Q: What is the most common oral cancer?

Squamous cell ca. ***Squamous cell ca*** - **Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)** accounts for over **90% of all oral cancers**, making it the most prevalent type. - It arises from the **stratified squamous epithelium** lining the oral cavity. *Transition cell ca* - This term is more commonly associated with tumors of the **urinary tract**, such as transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. - **Transitional cell carcinomas** are not typically found in the oral cavity. *Mucoepidermoid* - **Mucoepidermoid carcinoma** is the most common primary malignant tumor of **salivary glands**, not the oral cavity lining. - While salivary glands are in the oral region, this type of cancer originates specifically from these glands. *Adenocarcinoma* - **Adenocarcinoma** originates from **glandular tissue** and represents a small percentage of oral cancers. - It is much **less common** than squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity. [Practice more Dental PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A patient who recently got a denture fitted is found to have oral thrush that bleeds on scraping. What is the causative agent for this condition?

Candida. ***Candida*** - **Oral thrush** (candidiasis) is a common opportunistic fungal infection, especially in individuals with **dentures**, which create a warm, moist environment conducive to candidal growth. - The characteristic presentation includes **white patches** on the oral mucosa that, when scraped, reveal an **erythematous** (red) or **bleeding** surface. *Diphtheria* - Diphtheria causes a **pseudomembrane** in the throat that is tough, grayish, and hard to remove, but it's not typically associated with denture use or easy bleeding on scraping. - It is caused by the bacterium *Corynebacterium diphtheriae* and is accompanied by **severe systemic toxicity**, unlike the localized oral thrush. *Staph Aureus* - *Staphylococcus aureus* can cause various infections, but it is not typically associated with the characteristic **white, easily scrapable lesions** of oral thrush. - Oral *Staph aureus* infections might present as **impetigo** periorally or **abscesses**, neither of which fits the clinical description. *Strep Mutans* - *Streptococcus mutans* is primarily known for its role in **dental caries** (cavities) due to acid production from sugar fermentation. - It is not the causative agent for **oral thrush** or the described white, bleeding lesions on scraping. [Practice more Dental PYQs on OnCourse]

2 Previous Year Questions with Answers & Explanations

Questions

What is the most common oral cancer?

A patient who recently got a denture fitted is found to have oral thrush that bleeds on scraping. What is the causative agent for this condition?