Pathology · single question
A ~50-year-old patient has a white palate with red dots around minor salivary gland openings (no photo). What type of condition is this?
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Correct answer: A. Reactive (nicotinic stomatitis)
- A. ✅ Correct. White palate with red dots at minor salivary gland openings in a smoker = nicotinic stomatitis. It is a REACTIVE condition — reactive to thermal/chemical irritation from tobacco.
- B. ❌ Nicotinic stomatitis has low malignant potential; the lesion is reactive, not neoplastic.
- C. ❌ There is no infectious etiology for nicotinic stomatitis.
- D. ❌ Developmental conditions are present from birth/early childhood.
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