HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is the characteristic of an exophytic lesion?

1. It has a stalk-like attachment

2. It grows outwardly

3. It is flat and broad-based

4. It contains pus

The correct answer is: It grows outwardly

An exophytic lesion is characterized by its outward growth. This means that the lesion protrudes or bulges away from the surface of the tissue where it is located, rather than growing flat against the surface or downward into the tissue. This type of lesion can often be observed as a raised area and may vary in size and shape. The other characteristics listed—such as a stalk-like attachment, being flat and broad-based, or containing pus—do not accurately describe exophytic lesions. Stalk-like lesions refer more to pedunculated growths, while flat and broad-based lesions would be classified differently. Pus within a lesion suggests an infectious process, which is not inherently linked to whether a lesion is exophytic. Therefore, focusing on the nature of outward growth is key to understanding exophytic lesions.