Oral & Dental Pathology Flashcards
6 cards from real MJDF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Oral & Dental Pathology flashcards as text
What is the most common cause of a periapical abscess?
Answer: Bacterial infection of the pulp due to deep caries causing pulp necrosis
Periapical abscess most commonly results from bacterial infection of a necrotic pulp (secondary to deep caries), spreading through the apical foramen to cause periapical inflammation and pus formation.
What differentiates a true cyst from a pseudocyst histologically?
Answer: A true cyst has an epithelial lining; a pseudocyst lacks epithelial lining
By definition, a true cyst has a cavity lined by epithelium surrounded by connective tissue; a pseudocyst (e.g., aneurysmal bone cyst) lacks this epithelial lining.
Which stain is used to identify Candida hyphae in a mucosal biopsy?
Answer: Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain
PAS stain highlights the polysaccharide-rich cell walls of Candida hyphae and pseudohyphae in a bright magenta colour, making it the standard histochemical stain for fungal identification in tissue sections.
What is the histological difference between hyperkeratosis and dysplasia in oral leukoplakia?
Answer: Hyperkeratosis is excess keratin without cellular atypia; dysplasia involves cellular and architectural atypia
Hyperkeratosis is increased keratin production without cytological atypia and has a lower malignant potential; dysplasia involves both architectural and cellular abnormalities and is the true precancerous change.
What is the mechanism of bone resorption in a dentigerous cyst?
Answer: Prostaglandins and cytokines (IL-1, TNF) from the cyst lining stimulate osteoclast activity
Cyst expansion is driven by osmotic pressure and prostaglandins/cytokines released by the cyst lining, which stimulate osteoclasts at the bone-cyst interface to resorb alveolar bone.
What is the recurrence rate of an odontogenic keratocyst compared to a dentigerous cyst?
Answer: OKC has a high recurrence rate (25–60%); dentigerous cyst rarely recurs after enucleation
OKCs have a high recurrence rate (25–60%) due to satellite cysts, the origin in rests of dental lamina, and thin fragile epithelium prone to tearing during enucleation, leaving remnants behind.