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Free Practice Questions for Iran Specialty Board Dermatology

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Key Facts: Iran Specialty Board Dermatology Exam

150

Total multiple-choice questions on the national written board certification examination

Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education Guidelines

70% (105/150)

Minimum passing score required in the written exam to advance to the clinical OSCE

Sanjesh Pezeshki Specialty Board Examination Regulations

210 min

Total written examination duration, providing approximately 84 seconds per clinical question

Sanjesh Pezeshki Examination Administration Procedures

0

Negative marking: incorrect answers receive zero points without penalty

Iranian Medical Specialty Board Examination Rules

2 Stages

Examination structure: Stage 1 Written MCQ followed by Stage 2 Practical Clinical OSCE

Council for Medical and Specialized Education

The Iranian Dermatology Specialty Board Exam is a rigorous two-stage certification process administered by Sanjesh Pezeshki. Candidates must first achieve at least 70% (105/150) on the 240-minute written MCQ exam without negative marking to advance to the multi-station clinical OSCE and dermatopathology oral examination.

Sample Iran Specialty Board Dermatology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Iran Specialty Board Dermatology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A 38-year-old patient presents with well-demarcated erythematous plaques covered by silvery-white scales on the extensor surfaces of the elbows and knees. Which of the following cytokines produced by dendritic cells is primarily responsible for driving the differentiation and expansion of pathogenic Th17 cells in this condition?
A.Interleukin-4
B.Interleukin-23
C.Interferon-gamma
D.Interleukin-10
Explanation: Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is secreted by activated myeloid dendritic cells and plays an obligatory role in the survival, maintenance, and expansion of pathogenic Th17 cells in psoriasis vulgaris. Th17 cells subsequently produce IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22, which stimulate keratinocyte hyperproliferation and induce antimicrobial peptides. Targeted biologics neutralizing the p19 subunit of IL-23 (such as guselkumab, risankizumab, and tildrakizumab) demonstrate exceptional clinical efficacy in chronic plaque psoriasis.
2A 42-year-old woman develops intensely pruritic, violaceous, polygonal flat-topped papules on the flexor wrists. Oral examination shows a lacy reticular white pattern on the bilateral buccal mucosa. Which of the following histological features is most characteristic of this disorder on punch biopsy?
A.Subcorneal pustules containing neutrophils with loss of the granular layer
B.Spongiosis with intraepidermal vesicle formation and dermal eosinophils
C.Band-like lymphocytic infiltrate hugging the dermoepidermal junction with basal layer vacuolization and Civatte bodies
D.Psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia with regular elongation of rete ridges and thinned suprapapillary plates
Explanation: Lichen planus is a cell-mediated autoimmune interface dermatosis. Its hallmark histopathological tetrad consists of hyperkeratosis without parakeratosis, focal wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, irregular saw-toothed acanthosis, and a dense band-like lymphocytic infiltrate hugging the dermoepidermal junction with basal cell vacuolization and apoptotic keratinocytes (Civatte bodies). Oral Wickham striae correspond clinically to the focal areas of hypergranulosis.
3A 26-year-old man presents with an acute eruption of multiple small (2 to 8 mm) teardrop-shaped erythematous scaly papules over his trunk and proximal extremities 2 weeks after recovering from a febrile pharyngitis. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial therapy for this patient?
A.Narrowband UVB phototherapy or topical corticosteroids, accompanied by evaluation and treatment of streptococcal infection if still active
B.Immediate initiation of high-dose oral cyclosporine at 5 mg/kg/day
C.Intravenous immunoglobulin infusion at 2 g/kg over 2 days
D.Systemic acitretin monotherapy at 1 mg/kg/day
Explanation: Guttate psoriasis typically erupts abruptly in adolescents and young adults following group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis. First-line management consists of topical corticosteroids, emollients, and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy, alongside microbiological confirmation and antibiotic eradication of active streptococcal carriage if throat swab or antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer confirms acute infection. Phototherapy accelerates clearance substantially.
4A 48-year-old male with poorly controlled plaque psoriasis develops fever, leukocytosis, and sudden widespread eruption of sheets of sterile non-follicular pustules coalescing into lakes of pus on background fiery erythema shortly after abrupt tapering of oral dexamethasone. Which of the following mutations is most frequently implicated in the familial forms of this life-threatening condition?
A.CARD14 gain-of-function mutation
B.FLG loss-of-function mutation
C.NLRP3 gain-of-function mutation
D.IL36RN loss-of-function mutation
Explanation: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP, von Zumbusch type) is frequently precipitated by the abrupt withdrawal of systemic corticosteroids. Familial and idiopathic forms of GPP are strongly associated with homozygous or compound heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the IL36RN gene, which encodes the interleukin-36 receptor antagonist (IL-36Ra). Deficiency of IL-36Ra (DITRA) leads to uninhibited signaling through the IL-36 receptor, inducing hyperactivation of NF-kappa-B and massive neutrophilic chemokine release.
5Which of the following biologic agents is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and is approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis?
A.Secukinumab
B.Ustekinumab
C.Adalimumab
D.Dupilumab
Explanation: Secukinumab is a fully human IgG1-kappa monoclonal antibody that selectively binds and neutralizes IL-17A, preventing its interaction with the IL-17 receptor complex. By blocking IL-17A, secukinumab inhibits keratinocyte activation, antimicrobial peptide production, and neutrophilic recruitment in plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Ixekizumab is a humanized IgG4 antibody targeting IL-17A, whereas bimekizumab neutralizes both IL-17A and IL-17F.
6A 55-year-old woman presents with cicatricial alopecia of the crown and vertex. Examination reveals perifollicular erythema, follicular hyperkeratosis, and loss of follicular ostia. A scalp biopsy demonstrates a lichenoid lymphocytic infiltrate concentrated around the infundibulum and isthmus with concentric lamellar perifollicular fibroplasia. What is the most accurate diagnosis?
A.Discoid lupus erythematosus
B.Alopecia areata
C.Lichen planopilaris
D.Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
Explanation: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a primary lymphocytic cicatricial (scarring) alopecia that selectively attacks the hair follicle infundibulum and isthmus, where the follicular epithelial stem cells reside in the bulge region. Biopsy reveals a lichenoid interface lymphocytic infiltrate at the level of the upper follicle accompanied by concentric perifollicular lamellar fibroplasia and permanent destruction of follicular ostia. Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a recognized clinical variant of LPP.
7A 5-year-old boy has a long-standing history of xerosis, severe pruritus, and recurrent lichenified eczematous plaques involving the antecubital and popliteal fossae. Laboratory evaluation reveals peripheral blood eosinophilia and markedly elevated serum IgE. Which of the following epidermal barrier proteins is most consistently deficient in this patient's condition?
A.Involucrin
B.Filaggrin
C.Loricrin
D.Keratin 1
Explanation: Loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin (FLG), located within the epidermal differentiation complex on chromosome 1q21, are the strongest known genetic risk factor for atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris. Filaggrin is essential for aggregating keratin intermediate filaments and is metabolized into natural moisturizing factors (NMF) such as pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and urocanic acid, maintaining stratum corneum hydration and acidic pH. Filaggrin deficiency leads to transepidermal water loss and allergen penetration.
8A 28-year-old nurse develops acute pruritic vesicles and erythematous scaling on the dorsum of both hands. Patch testing shows a 3+ vesicular reaction to nickel sulfate and a 2+ reaction to thiuram mix. Which of the following immunologic mechanisms mediates this positive patch test response?
A.Type I IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity
B.Type II antibody-dependent cytotoxic hypersensitivity
C.Type III immune complex-mediated hypersensitivity
D.Type IV cell-mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity
Explanation: Allergic contact dermatitis and patch testing are governed by Gell and Coombs Type IV (delayed-type) cell-mediated hypersensitivity. During the sensitization phase, low-molecular-weight haptens penetrate the epidermis, bind to self-proteins, and are processed by epidermal Langerhans cells that migrate to regional lymph nodes to prime naive T cells. Upon subsequent challenge, memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells traffic to the skin, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and eliciting spongiotic eczema over 48 to 72 hours.
9A 60-year-old male presents with orange-red follicular papules that have coalesced into large plaques covering his trunk and extremities, interspersed with well-demarcated islands of completely normal skin ('islands of sparing'). He also exhibits prominent waxy orange-red palmoplantar keratoderma. Which of the following dermatoses is the most likely diagnosis?
A.Psoriasis vulgaris
B.Pityriasis rubra pilaris
C.Sézary syndrome
D.Secondary syphilis
Explanation: Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP, particularly classic adult type I) is characterized by orange-red (salmon-colored) plaques, follicular keratotic plugs ('nutmeg-grater' sign), waxy palmoplantar keratoderma ('PRP sandals'), and characteristic sharply demarcated 'islands of normal skin' within erythrodermic sheets. Histopathology typically exhibits alternating orthokeratosis and parakeratosis in both vertical and horizontal directions ('checkerboard pattern').
10A 34-year-old woman presents with recurrent, painful, tender erythematous nodules on the pretibial aspects of both lower legs. She has no ulceration. A deep incisional biopsy reveals a septal panniculitis without primary vasculitis, featuring Meischer radial granulomas. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnosis?
A.Erythema nodosum
B.Polyarteritis nodosa
C.Erythema induratum of Bazin
D.Nodular vasculitis
Explanation: Erythema nodosum (EN) is the prototypical septal panniculitis without vasculitis. Histologically, it demonstrates marked widening of interlobular septa by edema, fibrin deposition, and mixed inflammatory infiltrates, with pathognomonic Miescher radial granulomas (small nodular aggregations of histiocytes surrounding a central cleft-like space). It represents a reactive cutaneous hypersensitivity response to various triggers including streptococcal infection, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and medications.

About the Iran Specialty Board Dermatology Exam

The Iranian Medical Specialty Board Examination in Dermatology (آزمون دانشنامه تخصصی بیماری‌های پوست - commonly known as 'Board-e Takhasosi-e Poost' or 'Daneshnameh Poost') is the highest professional certification examination in clinical dermatology, dermatopathology, venereology, and cutaneous surgery in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Administered annually by the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education in partnership with the National Center for Health Assessment (مرکز سنجش آموزش پزشکی - Sanjesh Pezeshki), passing this rigorous two-stage examination confers full Board Certification (دانشنامه تخصصی), qualifying dermatologists for academic faculty appointments, subspecialty fellowship training, and independent specialist leadership. The curriculum and written examination are based primarily on international gold-standard reference treatises designated by the national board board examining committee: Bolognia's Dermatology and Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, supplemented by national clinical guidelines for endemic conditions such as Old World leishmaniasis and regional pemphigus protocols. The written examination tests 152 questions across six comprehensive domains: Inflammatory, Papulosquamous & Eczematous Dermatoses (~20%), Cutaneous Infections, Infestations & Endemic Leishmaniasis (~18%), Autoimmune Bullous Diseases & Connective Tissue Diseases (~18%), Dermatopathology, Melanocytic Lesions & Cutaneous Oncology (~18%), Dermatologic Surgery, Laser, Phototherapy & Cosmeceuticals (~14%), and Pediatric & Genodermatoses, Drug Reactions & Systemic Manifestations (~12%). This practice question bank is an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation authored by OpenExamPrep. It contains 100 board-caliber clinical scenarios featuring rigorous diagnostic rationales and comprehensive distractor analyses to prepare dermatology residents and international candidates for advanced board-level mastery. The official Iranian examination is delivered in Persian; this resource is an independent educational adaptation and is neither an official translation nor endorsed by Sanjesh Pezeshki.

Exam sponsor: Council for Medical and Specialized Education & National Center for Health Assessment (Sanjesh Pezeshki / مرکز سنجش آموزش پزشکی). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Dermatology is administered annually in late summer (Shahrivar / September) at central university assessment facilities in Tehran under the auspices of the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education and Sanjesh Pezeshki. The certification consists of two mandatory stages: Stage 1 is the Written Board Examination comprising 152 four-option multiple-choice questions administered over a single 240-minute session (no negative marking; passing cut score is 70%, or 105/150). Candidates who satisfy this threshold qualify for Stage 2, the Practical/Clinical Board Examination (آزمون شفاهی و ساختارمند / OSCE), which assesses clinical slide interpretation, dermatopathology microscopic spot-diagnosis, dermatologic surgical planning, and standardized patient case management.

Time Limit

240 minutes

Passing Score

70% of the written total (105 of 150 points)

Exam / Certification Fees

Set annually by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, payable online via sanjeshp.ir during official board candidacy registration

Exam sponsor website

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Inflammatory, Papulosquamous & Eczematous Dermatoses

Psoriasis vulgaris, guttate, erythrodermic, and generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP/IL-36 receptor antagonist pathway); biologic mechanisms (anti-TNF, IL-17 inhibitors, IL-23 p19 antagonists); lichen planus variants (classic, oral, lichen planopilaris, bullous); atopic dermatitis pathogenesis and targeted therapies (dupilumab, JAK inhibitors); allergic and irritant contact dermatitis; pityriasis rubra pilaris; erythema annulare centrifugum; and neutrophilic dermatoses (Sweet syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum).

18%

Cutaneous Infections, Infestations & Endemic Leishmaniasis

Epidemiology, clinical morphology, diagnosis, and treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major); meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) systemics and intralesional protocols, cryotherapy, and thermotherapy; deep and subcutaneous mycoses (mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis, sporotrichosis); leprosy (Hansen disease classification, Ridley-Jopling spectrum, multidrug therapy, lepra reactions); cutaneous tuberculosis; herpesviridae; atypical mycobacteria; and resistant scabies management.

18%

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases & Connective Tissue Diseases

Pemphigus vulgaris (Dsg3 and Dsg1 autoantibodies, first-line rituximab protocols, desmoglein ELISA monitoring), pemphigus foliaceus, paraneoplastic pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid (BP180 NC16A domain), mucous membrane pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, dermatitis herpetiformis, systemic lupus erythematosus (subacute cutaneous LE, discoid LE), systemic sclerosis and morphea, dermatomyositis (myositis-specific antibodies, malignancy screening), and relapsing polychondritis.

18%

Dermatopathology, Melanocytic Lesions & Cutaneous Oncology

Dermatopathology algorithmic approaches (interface, spongiotic, psoriasiform, granulomatous, and vasculitic patterns); immunohistochemical markers (Melan-A, SOX10, S100, CK20, Ber-EP4, CD10); melanoma subtypes (superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous), Breslow depth, sentinel lymph node biopsy guidelines; basal cell carcinoma variants; squamous cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma; cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides stages, Sézary syndrome); and Merkel cell carcinoma.

14%

Dermatologic Surgery, Laser, Phototherapy & Cosmeceuticals

Head and neck surgical anatomy, dangerous nerve zones (facial nerve branches), tumescent local anesthesia, flap dynamics (advancement, rotation, transposition flaps), full-thickness and split-thickness skin grafts, Mohs micrographic surgery tissue processing, laser physics (selective photothermolysis, pulse duration, wavelength selection), narrowband UVB vs. PUVA protocols, chemical resurfacing depths, and botulinum toxin and soft-tissue filler complications.

12%

Pediatric & Genodermatoses, Drug Reactions & Systemic Manifestations

Genodermatoses (ichthyosis vulgaris, X-linked ichthyosis, lamellar ichthyosis, epidermolytic ichthyosis), epidermolysis bullosa subtypes (simplex, junctional, dystrophic), tuberous sclerosis complex, neurofibromatosis type 1, severe cutaneous adverse reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, DRESS syndrome, AGEP), cutaneous signs of systemic disease (necrolytic migratory erythema, calciphylaxis, pyoderma gangrenosum), and mastocytosis.

Preparing for the Iran Specialty Board Dermatology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% of the written total (105 of 150 points)
  • Assessment: The Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Dermatology is administered annually in late summer (Shahrivar / September) at central university assessment facilities in Tehran under the auspices of the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education and Sanjesh Pezeshki. The certification consists of two mandatory stages: Stage 1 is the Written Board Examination comprising 152 four-option multiple-choice questions administered over a single 240-minute session (no negative marking; passing cut score is 70%, or 105/150). Candidates who satisfy this threshold qualify for Stage 2, the Practical/Clinical Board Examination (آزمون شفاهی و ساختارمند / OSCE), which assesses clinical slide interpretation, dermatopathology microscopic spot-diagnosis, dermatologic surgical planning, and standardized patient case management.
  • Time limit: 240 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: Set annually by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, payable online via sanjeshp.ir during official board candidacy registration Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Iran Specialty Board Dermatology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master Old World Leishmaniasis thoroughly: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (L. major and L. tropica) is an endemic public health priority in Iran (Isfahan, Fars, Kerman, Khorasan). Board questions frequently test differential diagnosis (e.g., lupoid leishmaniasis vs. lupus vulgaris), diagnostic smear and PCR evaluation, Glucantime dosing, cardiac and pancreatic monitoring, and cryotherapy combinations.
2Review Autoimmune Bullous Protocols: Pemphigus vulgaris has a remarkably high prevalence in the Iranian population. Focus extensively on desmoglein 3 vs. 1 pathophysiology, direct and indirect immunofluorescence patterns, ELISA titers, first-line rituximab (anti-CD20) infusion schedules, intravenous immunoglobulin indications, and monitoring infection risks.
3Emphasize Dermatopathology Reaction Patterns: A substantial proportion of board questions present histological descriptions or virtual pathology descriptions. Commit to memory the five classic tissue patterns: spongiotic, psoriasiform, interface (vacuolar vs. lichenoid), vesiculobullous (intraepidermal vs. subepidermal), and granulomatous.
4Know Cutaneous Oncology Guidelines & Surgical Margins: Review precise surgical excision margins for melanoma in situ (0.5–1.0 cm), invasive melanoma (<1 mm: 1 cm margin; 1.01–2 mm: 1–2 cm margin; >2 mm: 2 cm margin), high-risk squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma subtypes. Master sentinel lymph node biopsy indications and Mohs micrographic surgery criteria.
5Pace Yourself for 152 Questions with Zero Negative Marking: With 240 minutes for 152 questions, you have approximately 95 seconds per question. Because there is no negative marking, ensure every single question has an answer recorded before the examination time expires.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Dermatology (Daneshnameh Takhasosi Poost)?

The Iranian Specialty Board Examination in Dermatology (آزمون دانشنامه تخصصی بیماری‌های پوست) is the definitive national certifying examination administered by the Secretariat for the Council for Medical and Specialized Education under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) through Sanjesh Pezeshki. Successful completion of both the written and clinical components certifies candidates as board-certified dermatologists, entitling them to practice as medical specialists, pursue academic faculty appointments, and enter subspecialty fellowships.

What is the difference between the Certification Exam (Daneshnameh / Board) and the Promotion Exam (Govahi / Arzyabi)?

In the Iranian residency education system, resident physicians take annual Promotion Examinations (آزمون ارتقاء) to progress from year to year (PGY-1 through PGY-4). At the conclusion of their final year, residents sit for the Exit Certification Exam (گواهینامه تخصصی), which allows them to fulfill compulsory public health service as specialists. The National Board Examination (دانشنامه تخصصی / بورد), taken concurrently or sequentially, is an optional higher credential required for academic faculty posts, university teaching hospital privileges, and fellowship training.

What is the structure of the written examination, and what is the passing threshold?

The written board examination consists of 152 four-option multiple-choice questions administered over 240 minutes (1.6 minutes per question). There is no negative marking for incorrect choices. Examinees must score at least 70% (105 points out of a written total of 150) to pass the written stage and qualify for the clinical OSCE examination.

What does the second stage (Clinical OSCE / Practical Exam) entail?

The practical examination (آزمون شفاهی و ساختارمند / OSCE) typically features 10 to 14 objective structured stations. These stations assess real-world diagnostic slide interpretation, multihead dermatopathology microscope review, cutaneous surgical flap planning on models, laser parameters selection, patient communication, and management of acute dermatologic emergencies.

Which textbooks and references are the primary sources for the Iranian Dermatology Board?

The national examination board designates Bolognia's Dermatology (current edition) and Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine as the primary comprehensive references. In addition, national protocols and guidelines published by the Ministry of Health on endemic disorders—notably cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and pemphigus vulgaris management—are heavily weighted.

Is this OpenExamPrep question bank an official Sanjesh Pezeshki study tool?

No. This question bank is an independent English-language multiple-choice practice adaptation authored by OpenExamPrep for conceptual review and board exam preparation. The official Iranian specialty board examination is administered in Persian by Sanjesh Pezeshki and the Council for Medical and Specialized Education. This resource is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official translation of Sanjesh Pezeshki or the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.