CDT Clinical Procedures & Patient Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing a shave biopsy, which instrument is most commonly used to obtain the specimen?
- Punch biopsy tool
- Flexible razor blade (Correct answer)
- Scalpel with a #15 blade
- Dermal curette
Correct answer: Flexible razor blade
A flexible razor blade (such as a DermaBlade) is the standard instrument for shave biopsies, allowing the dermis technician to feather the blade for a smooth, tangential cut.
Question 2: A patient undergoing a cryotherapy procedure for an actinic keratosis develops a blister at the treatment site 24 hours later. This response is considered:
- A sign of infection requiring antibiotics
- An adverse reaction requiring immediate reporting
- An expected tissue response to liquid nitrogen (Correct answer)
- Evidence of an allergic reaction to the cryogen
Correct answer: An expected tissue response to liquid nitrogen
Blister formation after cryotherapy is an expected inflammatory response as the treated tissue undergoes freeze-thaw injury and subsequent healing.
Question 3: Which topical anesthetic is most commonly applied prior to laser procedures in dermatology?
- Benzocaine 20%
- EMLA (lidocaine/prilocaine) cream (Correct answer)
- Tetracaine 4% gel
- Capsaicin cream
Correct answer: EMLA (lidocaine/prilocaine) cream
EMLA cream, a eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine, is the most widely used topical anesthetic for pre-laser analgesia due to its effectiveness and safety profile.
Question 4: During wound care for a post-procedural dermatology patient, which dressing type creates a moist wound environment to promote healing?
- Dry gauze dressing
- Hydrocolloid dressing (Correct answer)
- Calcium alginate packing
- Dry non-adherent dressing
Correct answer: Hydrocolloid dressing
Hydrocolloid dressings maintain a moist wound environment, which accelerates re-epithelialization and reduces pain compared to dry dressings.
Question 5: What is the correct angle for intralesional injection of a corticosteroid into a hypertrophic scar?
- 90 degrees (perpendicular)
- 45 degrees
- 10–15 degrees (nearly parallel) (Correct answer)
- 60 degrees
Correct answer: 10–15 degrees (nearly parallel)
Intralesional injections into hypertrophic scars or keloids are performed at a nearly parallel (10–15 degree) angle to deliver medication directly within the dermis of the scar.
Question 6: When educating a patient about post-procedure sun protection after a chemical peel, which SPF is the minimum recommended for daily use?
- SPF 10
- SPF 20
- SPF 30 (Correct answer)
- SPF 50
Correct answer: SPF 30
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a minimum of SPF 30 for daily sun protection, particularly after resurfacing procedures that increase photosensitivity.
Question 7: A dermoscopy examination reveals a 'blue-white veil' structure. This finding is most associated with:
- Seborrheic keratosis
- Melanoma (Correct answer)
- Dermatofibroma
- Basal cell carcinoma
Correct answer: Melanoma
A blue-white veil in dermoscopy is a significant marker associated with melanoma, representing a confluent blue-white color over a raised area of the lesion.
CDT Clinical Procedures & Patient Care 2
When performing a shave biopsy, which instrument is most commonly used to obtain the specimen?