APEA 3P EXAM QUESTIONS COMPLETE WITH
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES
1. What is the most common type of skin cancer in the USA?
A) Squamous cell carcinoma
B) Melanoma
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Actinic keratosis
Correct Answer: C) Basal cell carcinoma
Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin
cancer in the United States, accounting for approximately 80%
of all skin cancers.
2. Which skin lesion is considered a precursor to squamous
cell carcinoma?
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Actinic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Melanoma
,Correct Answer: B) Actinic keratosis
Rationale: Actinic keratosis is a precancerous lesion that can
progress to squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated.
3. What is the gold standard diagnostic test for basal cell
carcinoma?
A) Wood's lamp examination
B) Biopsy
C) Dermatoscopy
D) Skin scraping
Correct Answer: B) Biopsy
Rationale: Biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing basal cell
carcinoma. If biopsy is not an option, referral to dermatology is
recommended.
4. A patient presents with numerous dry, round, pink to red
lesions with a rough and scaly texture on sun-exposed areas.
The lesions do not heal and are slowly growing. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
A) Basal cell carcinoma
B) Actinic keratosis
C) Seborrheic keratosis
D) Squamous cell carcinoma
,Correct Answer: B) Actinic keratosis
Rationale: Actinic keratosis presents as numerous dry, round,
pink to red lesions with a rough, scaly texture. They are slow-
growing, do not heal, and appear on sun-exposed areas.
5. What is the first-line treatment for small actinic keratosis
lesions?
A) 5-fluorouracil cream
B) Cryotherapy
C) Surgical excision
D) Topical steroids
Correct Answer: B) Cryotherapy
Rationale: Cryotherapy is the treatment of choice for small
actinic keratosis lesions. Large or numerous lesions may be
treated with 5-fluorouracil (Efudex).
6. A chronic red, scaly, rough-textured lesion with irregular
borders, crusting, and bleeding on the rim of the ear is most
consistent with:
A) Basal cell carcinoma
B) Actinic keratosis
C) Squamous cell carcinoma
D) Seborrheic keratosis
, Correct Answer: C) Squamous cell carcinoma
Rationale: Squamous cell carcinoma presents as a chronic red,
scaly, rough-textured lesion with irregular borders. Crusting or
bleeding may be present. Common locations include the rims of
ears, lips, nose, face, and top of hands.
7. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of melanoma
according to the ABCDE rule?
A) Asymmetry
B) Border irregularity
C) Diameter less than 6 mm
D) Evolving changes
Correct Answer: C) Diameter less than 6 mm
Rationale: The ABCDE rule for melanoma includes Asymmetry,
Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6 mm
(size of a pencil eraser), and Evolving changes.
8. What is the most common type of melanoma in dark-
skinned individuals?
A) Superficial spreading melanoma
B) Nodular melanoma
C) Acral lentiginous melanoma
D) Lentigo maligna melanoma
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES
1. What is the most common type of skin cancer in the USA?
A) Squamous cell carcinoma
B) Melanoma
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Actinic keratosis
Correct Answer: C) Basal cell carcinoma
Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin
cancer in the United States, accounting for approximately 80%
of all skin cancers.
2. Which skin lesion is considered a precursor to squamous
cell carcinoma?
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Actinic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Melanoma
,Correct Answer: B) Actinic keratosis
Rationale: Actinic keratosis is a precancerous lesion that can
progress to squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated.
3. What is the gold standard diagnostic test for basal cell
carcinoma?
A) Wood's lamp examination
B) Biopsy
C) Dermatoscopy
D) Skin scraping
Correct Answer: B) Biopsy
Rationale: Biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing basal cell
carcinoma. If biopsy is not an option, referral to dermatology is
recommended.
4. A patient presents with numerous dry, round, pink to red
lesions with a rough and scaly texture on sun-exposed areas.
The lesions do not heal and are slowly growing. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
A) Basal cell carcinoma
B) Actinic keratosis
C) Seborrheic keratosis
D) Squamous cell carcinoma
,Correct Answer: B) Actinic keratosis
Rationale: Actinic keratosis presents as numerous dry, round,
pink to red lesions with a rough, scaly texture. They are slow-
growing, do not heal, and appear on sun-exposed areas.
5. What is the first-line treatment for small actinic keratosis
lesions?
A) 5-fluorouracil cream
B) Cryotherapy
C) Surgical excision
D) Topical steroids
Correct Answer: B) Cryotherapy
Rationale: Cryotherapy is the treatment of choice for small
actinic keratosis lesions. Large or numerous lesions may be
treated with 5-fluorouracil (Efudex).
6. A chronic red, scaly, rough-textured lesion with irregular
borders, crusting, and bleeding on the rim of the ear is most
consistent with:
A) Basal cell carcinoma
B) Actinic keratosis
C) Squamous cell carcinoma
D) Seborrheic keratosis
, Correct Answer: C) Squamous cell carcinoma
Rationale: Squamous cell carcinoma presents as a chronic red,
scaly, rough-textured lesion with irregular borders. Crusting or
bleeding may be present. Common locations include the rims of
ears, lips, nose, face, and top of hands.
7. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of melanoma
according to the ABCDE rule?
A) Asymmetry
B) Border irregularity
C) Diameter less than 6 mm
D) Evolving changes
Correct Answer: C) Diameter less than 6 mm
Rationale: The ABCDE rule for melanoma includes Asymmetry,
Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6 mm
(size of a pencil eraser), and Evolving changes.
8. What is the most common type of melanoma in dark-
skinned individuals?
A) Superficial spreading melanoma
B) Nodular melanoma
C) Acral lentiginous melanoma
D) Lentigo maligna melanoma
