USMLE_ParaClinic II

A 34-year-old immigrant from Mexico presents following an episode of massive hemoptysis. He describes bringing up large amounts of bright red, foamy sputum. He denies any recent trauma. On physical examination, the patient is agitated and has difficulty speaking. His blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg and his heart rate is 110/min. On physical examination, breath sounds are audible bilaterally. You immediately initiate intravenous infusion of crystalloid. Portable chest x-ray shows opacity in the right upper lobe. Which of the following is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 34-year-old male is recovering from head trauma sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He is currently in the intensive care unit on mechanical ventilation. His most recent arterial blood gas analysis shows: pH 7.54, PaO2 124 mmHg, PaCO2 20 mmHg, Bicarbonate 17 mEq/L. Which of the following additional findings do you most expect in this patient?

A 34-year-old man complains of severe abdominal pain. He describes the pain as "sharp" and "unbearable." It is located in the lower left abdomen and radiates to the perineum. He has vomited twice since the pain began. He denies dysuria. On exam, he is afebrile. He cannot lie still on the examination table due to his discomfort. Mucus membranes appear slightly dry. Lungs are clear to auscultation. Heart sounds are normal and there are no murmurs or gallops. His abdomen is soft and non-tender to palpation. Inspection and palpation of his genitalia is unrevealing. Extremities have no cyanosis, clubbing, or edema. Which of the following is the best test to diagnose this patient's condition?

A 34-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after being involved in a motor vehicle collision. He was the restrained front passenger. He has had epigastric pain since the accident. He is hemodynamically stable and has no obvious injury or other complaints. An x-ray of the abdomen shows retroperitoneal air. Which of the following is the most appropriate test to confirm the diagnosis?

A 34-year-old man presents to your office for a routine check-up. He has no current complaints except for being "a little stressed out." He works as an executive officer and travels a lot within the country. He does not smoke and consumes alcohol occasionally. He currently takes no medications. His family history is insignificant. His blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg and heart rate is 80/min. Chest examination is unremarkable. The liver span is 8 cm and the spleen is not palpable. There is no cervical lymphadenopathy. Laboratory studies show: Erythrocyte count 5 million/mm3, Hemoglobin 14.0 g/dL, Leukocyte count 8,000/mm3, Platelet count 80,000/mm3. Which of the following is the best initial test for this patient?

A 34-year-old unrestrained male driver is brought to the ER after a motor vehicle accident. His cervical spine is immobilized. At the scene of the accident, his blood pressure is 80/40 mm Hg and heart rate is 130/min. He is able to communicate and follows simple commands. Lungs are clear to auscultation. Abdominal wall ecchymosis is present. Abdomen is mildly distended. Bowel sounds are decreased. Neck veins are collapsed. After two liters of intravenous fluids, his blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management of this patient?

A 34-year-old white woman is treated for a UTI with amoxicillin. Initially she improves, but 5 days after beginning treatment, she develops recurrent fever, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea with six to eight loose stools per day. What is the best diagnostic test to confirm your diagnosis?

A 34-year-old woman comes to your office to establish primary care. While she has no current complaints and reports herself to be “fairly healthy,” she wishes to see a doctor regularly for preventive medicine. She does regular breast examinations on herself, has a good diet and exercise, and has no family history of malignancy or chronic disease. While all of her other habits are healthy, she reluctantly admits to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. She had a “cervical smear” in her twenties, which she says was normal, and has never had a mammogram or ultrasound of her breasts. She reports being sexually active, and that she practices safe sex. Physical examination reveals a young woman in no apparent distress, with unremarkable vital signs. Her examination, including a breast and genitourinary exam, is normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate screening exam at this time?

A 34-year-old woman complains of occasional diarrhea and crampy lower abdominal pain. She says that at times her symptoms hamper her performance in important business meetings. The pain sometimes occurs after meals but is not always preceded by eating. The pain is often accompanied by diarrhea with small amounts of stool and mucus. Her past medical history is significant for bleeding hemorrhoids. Her mother died of colon cancer. Which of the following findings is most likely in this patient?

A 34-year-old woman has recurrent fainting spells induced by fasting. She also reports palpitations, trembling, diaphoresis, and confusion prior to the syncopal episodes. She has relief of symptoms with the administration of glucose. Which of the following findings is most consistent with the diagnosis of an insulinoma?

A 34-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital because of septic shock secondary to a urinary tract infection. In the intensive care unit, she receives intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Her initial ECG shows sinus tachycardia but is otherwise unremarkable. Chest x-ray shows no abnormalities. An internal jugular vein catheter is placed on the right side using ultrasound guidance to locate the vein. The patient is properly draped, and the skin is cleaned with chlorhexidine solution. Blood is freely aspirated from all ports after insertion. Vital signs are stable, and oxygenation is maintained. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in managing this patient?

A 34-year-old woman presents with hypertension, generalized weakness, and polyuria. Her electrolyte panel is significant for hypokalemia. Which of the following is the best initial test given her presentation and laboratory findings?

A 34-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2 at term comes to the labor and delivery ward with a gush of blood, abdominal pain, and irregular, painful contractions. Her prenatal course was significant for her being Rh negative and antibody negative. Her temperature is 37 C (98.6 F), pulse is 110/minute, blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, and respirations are 12/minute. Abdominal examination shows a tender abdomen and cervical examination shows the cervix to be closed and long with a significant amount of blood in the vagina. The fetal heart rate is in the 170s with moderate to severe variable decelerations with contractions. The diagnosis of placental abruption is made and an emergent cesarean delivery is performed. To determine the correct amount of RhoGAM (anti-D immune globulin) that should be given, which of the following is the most appropriate laboratory test to send?

A 35-year-old alcoholic man is admitted with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that radiates to the back. He has had several previous episodes of pancreatitis presenting with the same symptoms. Which of the following laboratory values suggests a poor prognosis in this patient?

A 35-year-old bank executive is brought to the emergency department after the sudden onset of a severe (10/10) headache, followed by a brief period of unconsciousness. His headache started while he was at a meeting and shortly thereafter, he vomited and lost consciousness. He regained consciousness soon afterwards, but was quite confused and irritable. His blood pressure is 160/100 mm Hg, pulse is 90/min, temperature is 37.2°C (99°F), and respirations are 16/min. The physical examination reveals a normal pupil size, no congestion or inflammation of the eye, and no focal neurological deficits. The ECG reveals nonspecific ST and T wave changes. The CT scan shows a subarachnoid hemorrhage. What is the most likely expected electrolyte abnormality with the patient's disease?

A 35-year-old Caucasian male is being evaluated for poor exercise tolerance and muscle weakness. He has no past medical history. His blood pressure ranges from 175-185 mmHg systolic and 105-115 mmHg diastolic on repeat measurement. His heat rate is 78-95/min His serum chemistry is significant for blood glucose of 95 mg/dL serum creatinine of 0.7mg/dL serum Na of 146 mEq/L and serum K of 2.4 mEq/L. CT scan of the abdomen reveals a 3 cm mass in the left adrenal gland. Which of the following additional findings would you expect in this patient? ( Plasma renin activity, Serum aldosterone, Serum bicarbonate )

A 35-year-old Caucasian male presents with weakness, fatigue, and weight loss over the past year. He is anorexic and has lost interest in all his activities. His temperature is 37.1°C (99°F), pulse is 84/min, blood pressure is 101/72 mmHg, and respirations are 14/min. On physical examination, he does not appear to be in acute distress. Dark brown pigmentation is present on his skin creases and oral cavity mucous membranes. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 10.3 g/dL, WBC count 3,000/micro-L, Neutrophils 60%, Monocytes 5%,Eosinophils 10%, Basophils 1%, Lymphocytes 24%, Serum sodium 130 meq/L, Serum potassium 5.5 meq/L. Chest x-ray and PPD tests are normal. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 35-year-old female complains of nipple discharge. The discharge is from both breasts, brown in color and occurs intermittently. She has two children who are 5 and 8 years old. She has not been recently pregnant. Her last menstrual period was one week ago. She describes no other symptoms. Examination shows normal breasts without palpable lumps or nipple abnormalities. Brownish discharge is expressed from the nipples, and it is guaiac negative. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 35-year-old G3P3 with a Pap smear showing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion of the cervix (CIN III) has an inadequate colposcopy. Cone biopsy of the cervix shows squamous cell cancer that has invaded only 1 mm beyond the basement membrane. There are no confluent tongues of tumor, and there is no evidence of lymphatic or vascular invasion. The margins of the cone biopsy specimen are free of disease. How should you classify or stage this patient’s disease?

A 35-year-old male complains of substernal chest pain aggravated by inspiration and relieved by sitting up. Lung fields are clear to auscultation, and heart sounds are somewhat distant. Chest x-ray shows an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Which of the following is the best next step in evaluation?

A 35-year-old male is brought to the emergency room with headaches and confusion for the past 2 days. He denies any focal weakness or sensory symptoms. His past medical history is significant for HIV and hepatitis C infections for which he is not receiving therapy. The remainder of his medical history is unobtainable due to his mental status. On physical exam, he has a temperature of 37.9°C (100.2°F), a blood pressure of 140/86 mm Hg, a pulse of 96/min, and respirations of 16/min. Mild icterus is present. The patient's oropharynx is clear and his neck is supple and without rigidity. Examination of his chest and abdomen are unremarkable. Neurologic examination reveals no focal deficits. Laboratory studies show: Complete blood count:Hemoglobin 7.6 g/L, MCV 85 fl, Reticulocytes 8.1%, Platelet count 80,000/mm3, Leukocyte count 3,500/mm3. Chemistry panel: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 30 mg/dL, Serum creatinine 2.2 mg/dL, Serum calcium 10.0 mg/dL, Blood glucose 98 mg/dL. Liver studies:Total bilirubin 3.6 mg/dL, Direct bilirubin 1.0 mg/dL, Alkaline phosphatase 120 U/L, Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) 178 U/L, Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) 255 U/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 35-year-old male with severe persistent bronchial asthma requiring multiple medications presents complaining of weight gain over the past several months despite no changes in appetite, diet, or activity level. He denies alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and has no other significant past medical history. On physical examination, he has a blood pressure of 143/92 mm Hg, a heart rate of 65/min, a temperature of 98.7°F, and a respiratory rate of 16/min. There is moderate supraclavicular fullness, and his skin is thin with areas of bruising and acne. Neurologic exam reveals decreased proximal muscle strength. Which of the following findings is most likely to also be present in this patient?

A 35-year-old man presents with gastrointestinal complaints for the last 4 months. He currently has fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal cramps. He has lost 20 lb (9kg), and has also been feeling fatigued and anorexic. His temperature is 37.3°C (99.1° F), blood pressure is 110/74 mm Hg, pulse is 98/min, and respirations are 22/min. Physical examination reveals tenderness in the right lower quadrant. Digital rectal examination is positive for occult blood. His blood work shows: WBC 11,600 /mm3, Hemoglobin 9.6 g/dl, Hematocrit 30%, Platelets 214,000 /mm3. Flexible sigmoidoscopy reveals larger areas of ulceration within the colon. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 35-year-old man who has had type 1 diabetes for many years undergoes a pancreas transplant with enteric drainage (connection of the donor duodenum to the recipient jejunum). Postoperatively, he has increased pain near his pancreas transplant. Which of the following should be performed to confirm a diagnosis of rejection?

A 35-year-old white female slipped and fell on her side 2 days ago while she was going down the stairs from her house. Since that time, she has been having pain in her right shoulder. She describes this as an ache, which has been about the same over the last couple of days. She has tried ibuprofen, with only slight relief. She denies smoking and alcohol use. Examination suggests a shoulder sprain. You order an x-ray and see a normal shoulder but incidentally a 1.5cm coin-shaped lesion, in the outer side of right lung with well-aerated surrounding lung. She denies any respiratory complaints. What is the next best step regarding her lung lesion?

A 35-year-old woman comes to the clinic because of a left breast “thickness.” She noted this 5months ago and it has not receded. She has no family history of breast cancer. There is no drainage. She denies any pain. She has no other medical issues. She takes no birth control pills or any other medication. Examination shows a palpable mass in the left breast at 9 o’clock. A mammogram is nondiagnostic. Which of the following is the appropriate course of action?

A 35-year-old woman presents to the physician's office after she palpated a lump in her right breast. She has no other complaints. She has not seen a doctor for 10 years. She regularly performs breast self-exams after menses. She has no significant past medical history. Her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 40. Breast examination shows a 1 x 1 cm, rubbery, firm, freely mobile round mass in the upper, outer quadrant of the right breast; no axillary lymph nodes are palpable. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 36-year-old female complains of inability to lose weight despite low-calorie diet and daily exercise. She has also noticed that she is cold intolerant. She is wearing a jacket even though it is summer. She also reports constipation and hair loss. These symptoms have been worsening over the past 2 to 3 months. An elevated TSH and low total and free T4 confirm your suspicion of hypothyroidism. You suspect the etiology of this patient’s hypothyroidism to be autoimmune thyroiditis. What is the best test to confirm the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis?

A 36-year-old forest worker is brought to the emergency department after being hit by a falling tree, 3 hours ago. He has pain in the left subscapular region. His temperature is 36C (96.9F), blood pressure is 120/76 mm Hg, pulse is 90/min, and respirations are 18/min. Physical examination shows aggravation of the pain in the left subscapular region with taking a deep breath and with anteroposterior and lateral chest compression. He has ecchymoses on the anterior and posterior chest and on the upper abdominal wall. His abdomen is vaguely tender to palpation in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) and he has left costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness. Examination otherwise shows no abnormalities. An x-ray film of the chest shows posterior factures of the 8th, 9th and 1Oth ribs on the left. An x-ray film of the abdomen shows blunting of the left psoas shadow. Abdominal ultrasound shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hb 15.3 g/dL, Hematocrit 43%, WBC 6,200/mm3, Urinary sediment Many erythrocytes; WBC 4-5/hpf; oxalate crystals. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 36-year-old G3P2002 with an IUP at 38 weeks presents for shortness of breath. Shortness of breath has been gradually getting worse for the past 2 weeks. The patient states that she now needs to sleep with three pillows to feel like she can breathe. Vital sign: BP, 135/80 mm Hg; P, 78 beats/min; R, 26 breaths/min; T, 98.6°F. She said: chest pain: Negative, cough: Negative, hemoptysis: Negative, fever: Negative, edema: Positive, fetal movement: Positive, contractions: Negative, vaginal bleeding: Negative, leakage of fluid: Negative. Physical Exam: cardiovascular system (CVS): S1S2 +Regular Rate and Rhythm (RRR) no murmurs, lungs: + Crackles bilaterally, Abdominal: gravid, Extremities: 2+ edema bilaterally. What is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A 36-year-old male comes to the emergency department because of worsening right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain. One week ago he was started on cephalexin for furunculosis. He has had type I diabetes mellitus for 1Oyears and is on insulin. His temperature is 38.83°C (101.9°F). Examination shows multiple furuncles on the inner side of both thighs; most of them are in regression. Abdominal examination shows tenderness on deep palpation in RLQ without rebound or guarding; no masses are palpated; psoas sign is positive; bowel sounds are present. Rectal examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 13.0 g/L, Leukocyte count 17,500/mm3. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 36-year-old male patient, who has a history of Marfan's syndrome, presents with sudden onset of severe central tearing chest pain radiating to his back. The pain is 9/10 in severity and is unrelated to exertion. He denies any history of alcohol or tobacco use. Measurement of his BP shows a difference of 35 mmHg between his two arms. Chest auscultation reveals clear lung sounds and a mid-systolic click. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic step in the management of this patient?

A 36-year-old man is in your intensive care unit on mechanical ventilation following thoracotomy for a 24-hour-old esophageal perforation. His WBC is markedly elevated, and he is febrile, hypotensive, and coagulopathic. His NG tube fills with blood and continues to bleed. Which of the following findings on upper endoscopy would be most suspicious for stress gastritis?

A 36-year-old man presents to your office for a routine pre-employment physical. He has no complaints except for occasional morning headaches. His father died suddenly at the age of 54. The patient's blood pressure is 175/103 mmHg in the right arm and 180/105 mmHg in the left arm. His heart rate is 82/min. His lungs are clear bilaterally and his heart sounds are normal. Bilateral, non-tender, upper abdominal masses are palpated on exam. His hemoglobin level is 15.2 g/dL and creatinine concentration is 0.8 mg/dL. Which of the following is most likely to diagnose this patient's condition?

A 36-year-old man sustains a gunshot wound to the left buttock. He is hemodynamically stable. There is no exit wound, and an x-ray of the abdomen shows the bullet to be located in the right lower quadrant. Which of the following is most appropriate in the management of his suspected rectal injury?

A 36-year-old white female comes to the office due to swelling in front of her neck. She denies any hoarseness, dysphagia, fever, chills, diarrhea, constipation, heat or cold intolerance, and changes in appetite or weight. Her menstrual cycles are regular. She does not have any history of head and neck irradiation. Her family history is negative for thyroid problems. Her blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, respirations are 16/min, and temperature is 36.7°C (98.0°F). Examination of the neck shows a 2 x 2 cm, discrete, non-tender, firm, mobile nodule in the left thyroid lobe. There is no cervical lymphadenopathy. The rest of the examination is normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the evaluation of this patient?

A 36-year-old woman comes to your office complaining of a 12-month history of inter-menstrual bleeding and heavy menses. She has had type-2 diabetes for the past 4-years, managed with glipizide and metformin. She has no family history of gynecological malignancies. She does not use tobacco or alcohol. Her temperature is 37.2 C (98.9 F), and blood pressure is 126/76 mm Hg. Her BMI is 30 Kg/m2. Physical examination shows pale mucus membranes. Pelvic examination is within normal limits; no vaginal lesions are noted. Urine pregnancy test is negative. Her hemoglobin is 10.8 g/dl and platelet count is 223,000/mm3. Coagulation studies are within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 36-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department after she jumped from the second floor of a burning building. On arrival examination shows an unconscious woman with blood coming from her nose and with an open tibial fracture of left leg. Her eyes are closed and her pupils are equal and responsive bilaterally. She makes muffled sounds and responds to pain by opening the eyes and moving all the limbs. After the initial resuscitation, which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 36-year-old woman presents to the ED with sudden onset of left-sided chest pain and mild shortness of breath that began the night before. She was able to fall asleep without difficulty but woke up in the morning with persistent pain that is worsened upon taking a deep breath. She walked up the stairs at home and became very short of breath, which made her come to the ED. Two weeks ago, she took a 7-hour flight from Europe and since then has left-sided calf pain and swelling. What is the most common ECG finding for this patient’s presentation?

A 36-year-old woman presents to the physician's office after she palpated a lump in her right breast. She has no other complaints. She has not seen a doctor for 10 years. She regularly performs breast self-exams after menses. She has no significant past medical history. Her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 40. Breast examination shows a 1 x 1 cm rubbery, firm, freely mobile, round mass in the upper, outer quadrant of the right breast. No axillary lymph nodes are palpable. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 37-year-old male is being evaluated after a motor vehicle accident. He complains of right sided chest pain. Physical examination reveals mild bruising over the right chest wall, and is otherwise unremarkable. Chest x-ray shows no rib fractures but a solitary round lesion is seen in the right upper lobe of the lung. Upon further questioning the patient denies recent weight loss or appetite change. He has never smoked cigarettes. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of his lung lesion?

A 37-year-old pregnant woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic hypertension is 35 weeks’ pregnant. Which of the following is the best test to screen for fetal well-being?

A 37-year-old woman presents for evaluation of abnormal liver chemistries. She has long-standing obesity (current BMI 38) and has previously taken anorectic medications but not for the past several years. She takes no other medications and has not used parenteral drugs or had high risk sexual exposure. On examination, her liver span is 13 cm; she has no spider angiomas or splenomegaly. Several sets of liver enzymes have shown transaminases two to three times normal. Bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase are normal. Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibody are normal, as are serum iron and total iron-binding capacity. Which of the following is the likely pathology on liver biopsy?

A 38-year-old immigrant from Latin America sustained a third-degree burn in the lateral aspect of her lower leg when she was 14. The burn was untreated. Ever since the incident, she has had shallow ulcerations at the scar site that heal and break down all the time. In the past few months she has developed an indolent, dirty-looking, deeper ulcer at the site, with "heaped up" tissue growth around the edges. The ulcer is steadily growing and showing no signs of healing. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 38-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of the sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. The pain started one hour ago in the epigastrium but now it is mostly localized to the lower abdomen. She has some nausea but denies any vomiting. Her last menstrual period (LMP) was 25 days ago. Her temperature is 36.8C (98.1F), blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 25/min. The abdomen is tender on palpation with prominent guarding and positive rebound. There is no shifting dullness, and bowel sounds are absent. Laboratory studies show: Hb 13.1 g/dl, Hct 43%, WBC 10,900/mm3. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 39-year-old male with a prior history of myocardial infarction complains of yellow bumps on his elbows and buttocks. Yellow-colored cutaneous plaques are noted in those areas. The lesions occur in crops and have a surrounding reddish halo. Which of the following is the best next step in evaluation of this patient?

A 39-year-old woman comes to the office and complains of double vision. She feels "weak all over," especially at the end of the day. She had the same complaints 8 months ago that persisted for several weeks, but she didn't see a doctor because she had no insurance then. She has no past medical history. Her mother has rheumatoid arthritis, and her brother has type 1 diabetes mellitus. Her vital signs are normal. She has diplopia and mild ptosis. Her blood profile, CBC and thyroid tests are within normal limits. Electromyography and repetitive nerve stimulation reveals a decremental response in compound action potentials. Her acetylcholine receptor antibody test is positive. Which of the following tests should be ordered next?

A 4-week-old infant is brought to the office due to several episodes of vomiting over the past week. The episodes have progressively become more frequent and forceful, but the vomitus never contains any blood or bile. The infant has been breastfed since birth. His vital signs are stable, and he is afebrile. An olive-shaped mass is palpated just to the right of the umbilicus, and peristaltic waves are seen in the upper abdomen. Lab studies reveal a sodium level of 135 mEq/L, potassium level of 3.3 mEq/L, chloride level of 92 mEq/L and bicarbonate level of 30 mEq/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnostic test for this patient?

A 4-week-old male infant is brought to the office due to several episodes of projectile vomiting for the last few days. The vomitus contains milk and doesn't contain bile or blood. The child's appetite has increased for the last few days. He has been fed with goat's milk since birth, but doesn't seem to tolerate it anymore for the last few days. He vomits a few minutes after feedings. He appears dehydrated, and abdominal examination reveals no mass. Blood tests reveal macrocytosis. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 4-year-old boy falls from the jungle gym at preschool. He sustains minor abrasions and contusions, and is taken care of by the school nurse. His parents take him that same afternoon to his regular pediatrician and demand "a thorough check-up" for possible internal injuries. The pediatrician complies, and a complete physical examination is normal. His hemoglobin is 14 g/dL, and a urinalysis shows the presence of microhematuria. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 4-year-old boy from India presents with weakness. His parents note that he has been looking increasingly pale. Hemoglobin electrophoresis demonstrates an abnormal hemoglobin species. Genetic analysis indicates that the patient has the substitution of a valine for a glutamine in the sixth position of the betahemoglobin chain. Which of the following will most likely be seen on his blood smear?

A 4-year-old boy is brought to the pediatrician by his worried mother. She notes that he urinates 10 times a day and is always drinking water. She also reports that despite eating more than either of his brothers did at the same age, he is not gaining any weight. Which of the following human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types is associated with the most likely diagnosis for this child?

A 4-year-old boy is seen 1 hour after ingestion of a lye drain cleaner. No oropharyngeal burns are noted. The CXR is normal, but the patient continues to complain of significant chest pain. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in his management?

A 4-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital last night with the complaint of “difficulty breathing.” He has no past history of lung infection, no recent travel, and no day-care exposure; he does, however, have an annoying tendency to eat dirt. In the emergency center he was noted to be wheezing and to have hepatomegaly. He is able to talk, relaying his concern about his 6-week-old Chihuahua being left alone at home. Laboratory studies revealed marked eosinophilia (60% eosinophils). Which of the following tests is most likely to produce a specific diagnosis?

A 4-year-old boy, recently adopted through an international adoption service, is noted to have intermittent watery diarrhea, nausea, belching, and abdominal pain. His weight is less than the fifth percentile for his age. Which of the following studies would be most helpful in making the diagnosis?

A 4-year-old child has mental retardation, shortness of stature, brachydactyly (especially of the fourth and fifth digits), and obesity with round facies and short neck. The child is followed by an ophthalmologist for subcapsular cataracts, and has previously been noted to have cutaneous and subcutaneous calcifications, as well as perivascular calcifications of the basal ganglia. This patient is most likely to have which of the following features?

A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department after he ingested liquid oven cleaner. His vital signs are stable. He is crying and drooling with blood-tinged secretions. His lips and chin are swollen and erythematous. His clothes are contaminated with the material. His breathing appears normal. His lungs are clear. Based on these findings, what is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 4-year-old child is observed to hold his eyelids open with his fingers and to close one eye periodically, especially in the evening. He has some trouble swallowing his food. He usually appears sad, although he laughs often enough. He can throw a ball, and he runs well. Which of the following is most likely to aid in the diagnosis?

A 4-year-old child manifests symptoms of fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. The spleen tip is palpable. Throat culture and rapid slide (Monospot) test results are negative. The next logical diagnostic procedure would involve which of the following?

A 4-year-old girl was diagnosed of left-side otitis media about 10 days ago and was prescribed oral amoxicillin, 40 mg/kg/day for 7 days. She has since developed bloody diarrhea with mucus, crampy abdominal pain, and fever. On physical examination, her temperature is 39.4 C (102.9 F), pulse is 88/min, and respirations are 16/min. She has normal bowel sounds and is diffusely tender to palpation. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in diagnosis?

A 4-year-old previously healthy girl presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of rectal bleeding and dizziness. She has no other gastrointestinal symptoms. On examination, she appears pale. Her heart rate is 140 beats/min, and she has a 20 mmHg postural drop in systolic blood pressure. The child’s abdomen is nondistended and nontender, and fresh blood and clots are in the rectal vault on rectal examination. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnostic study to order for this patient?

A 40-year-old African American female comes to you for her routine medical check-up. She admits to smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for the last 20 years. Her mother and one maternal uncle have diabetes. Her height is five feet six inches, and weight is 130 lbs. Her blood pressure is 122/80 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, respirations are 16/min, and temperature is 37°C (98°F). What is the most appropriate screening test for diabetes mellitus?

A 40-year-old alcoholic male is being treated for tuberculosis, but he has not been compliant with his medications. He complains of increasing weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and nausea over the preceding three weeks. He appears thin, and his blood pressure is 80/50 mmHg. There is increased pigmentation over the elbows and in the palmar creases. Cardiac examination is normal. Which of the following is the best next step in evaluation?

A 40-year-old Asian woman presents to the emergency department complaining of intermittent epigastric pain. The pain is severe, lasts for a few hours, and is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Her bowel movements have been normal. Her temperature is 38.3°C (100.9°F), pulse is 100/min, blood pressure is 150/80 mm Hg, and respiratory rate is 22/min. Physical examination reveals moderate obesity and mildly icteric sclerae. Bowel sounds are normal, with an abrupt halt of inspiration upon palpation of the RUQ, and guarding is noted. Laboratory values reveal a WBC count of 13,000/mm3, total bilirubin of 3.3 mg/dL, and normal liver enzymes and alkaline phosphatase levels. Which of the following is the first diagnostic imaging study that should be performed?

A 40-year-old black male presents with dyspnea and tachypnea of sudden onset. He says that he was diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities three times before. Ventilation/perfusion scan reveals mismatched perfusion defect. Venous ultrasonography is positive for DVT. You suspect that inherited predisposition to hypercoagulation may be present. Which of the following is the most common form of such a predisposition?

A 40-year-old female presents to your office complaining of the pain in her right hip. She denies trauma and says that the pain began two weeks ago and gradually increased. Her past medical history is significant for systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed seven years ago. Her current medications include prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and lansoprazole. There is no local tenderness on physical examination and the range of motion of the right hip is normal. Hip radiograph is normal. What is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A 40-year-old female presents with abdominal discomfort. The discomfort is localized to the center of the upper abdomen and is not related to meals or fatty food. She has a history of similar symptoms. She has not had gastrointestinal bleeding, fatigue, dysphagia, or weight loss. Her mother has a history of gastric ulcer. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Complete physical examination is unremarkable. Stool for heme occult is negative. Complete blood count and serum chemistries are within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 40-year-old G3P2012 presents for her well-woman examination. She has had two vaginal deliveries and her largest baby weighed 4000 g. She had a postpartum bilateral tubal ligation. Her menstrual cycles are regular every 28 days and last 5 days. She states that with cough she may occasionally lose some urine; otherwise she has no complaints. She denies any medical problems. On examination she weighs 56 kg and her blood pressure is 132/81 mmHg. What type of speculum would be most appropriate to use when performing this patient’s Pap test?

A 40-year-old male comes to the office because of progressive knee and shoulder pain, which he describes as 5/10 in intensity and started 6 months ago. He has no other medical problems, except for newly diagnosed diabetes. He admits to "chain smoking" for "all his life" and drinks 1-2 bottles of beer a night. He is faithful to his wife. His mother died of "blood cancer" when he was 3-years-old. His father also has diabetes mellitus. His temperature is 37°C (98.6° F), pulse is 86/min, blood pressure is 134/86 mmHg, and respirations are 16/min. Physical examination reveals slightly swollen and tender knee joints. Mild hepatomegaly is present on abdominal examination. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 40-year-old male comes to the physician complaining of diarrhea with pale, voluminous, foul-smelling stools that are difficult to flush. He has had this problem sporadically for years, but has neglected medical care. He also has severe, intermittent, epigastric pain lasting 15 to 30 minutes after eating. He admits to chronic alcohol consumption. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the best test to confirm fat malabsorption in this patient?

A 40-year-old man with long-standing alcohol abuse complains of abdominal swelling, which has been progressive over several months. He has a history of gastrointestinal bleeding. On physical examination, there are spider angiomas and palmar erythema. Abdominal collateral vessels are seen around the umbilicus. There is shifting dullness, and bulging flanks are noted. Which of the following is the most important first step in the patient’s evaluation?

A 40-year-old obese woman, mother of five children, presents with progressive jaundice that she first noticed 4 weeks ago. She has a total bilirubin of 22 mg/dL, with 16 mg/dL direct (conjugated) and 6 mg/dL indirect (unconjugated). Her transaminases (AST and ALT) are minimally elevated, but her alkaline phosphatase is about 6 times the upper limit of normal. She has no anemia or occult blood in the stools. She has a history of multiple episodes of colicky right upper quadrant abdominal pain, brought about by the ingestion of fatty food; the last episode occurred a few days before her jaundice was first noted. She currently has no pain and is afebrile. A sonogram of her upper abdomen shows a contracted gallbladder full of stones, as well as dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary ducts; however, no stone can be identified in die common duct. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 40-year-old retired professional football player complains of the sudden onset of palpitations and shortness of breath 5 days after having knee replacement surgery. His pulse is 100/min and regular. Oxygen saturation is 90% room air. An ECG reveals sinus tachycardia. A chest x-ray film is unremarkable. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 40-year-old school teacher comes to the physician's office complaining of joint pain. Her symptoms began 10 days ago and consist of pain in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, wrists, knees and ankles, bilaterally. She describes joint stiffness lasting 10 to 15 minutes after a prolonged rest. She denies fever, malaise, weight loss and skin rash. Her past medical history is insignificant. She does not take any medications. On examination, there is no evidence of swelling, redness or tenderness of the involved joints. The remainder of the physical examination is unremarkable. Which of the following is most likely elevated in this patient?

A 40-year-old school teacher develops nausea and vomiting at the beginning of the fall semester. Over the summer she had taught preschool children in a small town in Mexico. She is sexually active, but has not used intravenous drugs and has not received blood products. Physical examination reveals scleral icterus, right upper quadrant tenderness, and a palpable liver. Liver function tests show aspartate aminotransferase of 750 U/L (normal < 40) and alanine aminotransferase of 1020 U/L (normal < 45). The bilirubin is 13 mg/dL (normal < 1.4) and the alkaline phosphatase is normal. What further diagnostic test is most likely to be helpful?

A 40-year-old woman comes to the physician for an annual examination. She has no complaints. She has menses every 28-30 days that last for 3 days. She has no intermenstrual bleeding. She has asthma, for which she uses an occasional inhaler. She had a tubal ligation 10 years ago. She has no known drug allergies. Examination is unremarkable, including a normal pelvic examination. One of her friends was recently diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and the patient wants to know when and if she needs to be screened for this. Which of the following is the most appropriate response?

A 40-year-old woman complains of 7 weeks of pain and swelling in both wrists and knees. She has several months of fatigue. After a period of rest, resistance to movement is more striking. On examination, the metacarpophalangeal joints and wrists are warm and tender. There are no other joint abnormalities. There is no alopecia, photosensitivity, kidney disease, or rash. Which of the following is correct?

A 40-year-old woman has been complaining of a 3-year history of increasing dyspnea and fatigue. She has no other medical illness. Physical examination reveals increased jugular venous pressure (JVP) with prominent c-v wave, and a reduced carotid pulse. Precordial examination reveals a left parasternal lift, loud P2, and right- sided S3 and S4. There are no audible murmurs. CXR reveals clear lung fields and an ECG shows evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy. Pulmonary function tests show a slight restrictive pattern. Primary pulmonary hypertension is suspected. Which of the following is the most appropriate test to confirm the diagnosis?

A 41-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with palpitations. On questioning she notes heat intolerance, nervousness, and insomnia. On physical examination the physician notes a fine tremor, diffuse non-pitting edema of the anterior lower leg, and bulging of both of her eyes. What finding on blood test would confirm the diagnosis?

A 42-year-old male is found unconscious in a subway station. He is brought to the emergency department where cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is done and IV glucose and thiamine are given. His lab profile shows: Blood pH 7.20, PaO2 90mmHg, PaCO2 30mmHg, HCO3 12 mEq/L. Which of the following is the best next step in the diagnosis of this patient's acid-base status?

A 42-year-old male presents to your office complaining of fatigue. His past medical history is insignificant. He does not smoke or consume alcohol. His blood pressure is 120/70 mmHg and heart rate is 85/min. Physical examination is insignificant. Laboratory values are: Hemoglobin 7.7 g/dL, MCV 72 fL, MCHC 28%, Leukocyte count 8,000/cmm, ESR 15 mm/hr. Serum iron and ferritin levels are decreased. What is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A 42-year-old male presents with a 2-year history of heartburn. The heartburn occurs after heavy meals and while supine. Over time, his symptoms have been increasing in severity and frequency. His symptoms used to be alleviated with the use of over-the-counter antacids, but these have become ineffective in the past two months. He also complains of epigastric pain and occasional vomiting, both of recent onset, especially in the morning. He denies dysphagia or odynophagia. He eats junk food and drinks two cups of coffee daily. He regularly drinks grape brandy and smokes 1 pack of cigarettes/day. Abdominal examination shows epigastric tenderness. Abdominal ultrasound is unremarkable. Test of the stool for occult blood is negative. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 42-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of substernal chest pain after every meal. He has chronic alcoholism and a long history of heartburn. Upper endoscopy shows mucosal irregularity and ulceration of the squamocolumnar junction above the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Multiple biopsies were taken. 4 hours later he is complaining of worsening substernal pain radiating to the back, left chest pain, and shortness of breath. His temperature is 37.10C (98.90F), blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, pulse is 140/min, and respirations are 34/min. An x-ray film of the chest shows minimal left pleural effusion. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 42-year-old man develops shortness of breath (SOB) and chest pain 7 days after an open cholecystectomy. His blood pressure is 145/86 mmHg, pulse is 120/min, respirations 24/min, and oxygen saturation of 97%. Pulmonary embolism is clinically suspected. Which of the following is the most common ECG finding of pulmonary embolism?

A 42-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. He was a restrained driver and hit a car from behind on a highway. He drank one glass of wine before driving. He occasionally uses cocaine. His medical problems include mild intermittent asthma and peptic ulcer disease. On initial evaluation, his blood pressure is 112/92 mm Hg and pulse is 96/min. His pulse oximetry shows 95% on room air. Examination shows bruises on the anterior chest wall and abdominal wall. X-rays reveal a fracture of the eighth left rib but no pneumothorax or pleural effusion. Cervical C-spine series are negative. An ultrasound does not show free intraperitoneal fluid. An ECG shows normal sinus rhythm with no ST-segment or T-wave changes. He is treated with intravenous fluids and analgesics. Eight hours later, he complains of epigastric discomfort, left shoulder pain, and mild nausea. His blood pressure is 97/62 mm Hg and pulse is 112/min. His pulse oximetry shows 96% on room air. Which of the following is most likely to diagnose this patient's current condition?

A 42-year-old man is diagnosed with an osteosarcoma. His family history is significant for a 37-year-old sister with breast cancer and an uncle with adrenocortical carcinoma. His family physician suspects that he may have Li-Fraumeni syndrome and suggests genetic testing. Which of the following genes is most likely to be mutated if he has the syndrome?

A 42-year-old man with no history of use of NSAIDs presents with recurrent gastritis. The patient was diagnosed and treated for Helicobacter pylori 6 months ago. Which of the following tests provides the least invasive method to document eradication of the infection?

A 42-year-old previously well woman presents with pruritus. She is not taking any medications, and only drinks alcohol on a social basis. Her physical examination is entirely normal with no signs of chronic liver disease or jaundice. Laboratory evaluation reveals an alkaline phosphatase level of three times normal, and an ultrasound of the liver and gallbladder is normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 42-year-old white female, who has a long history of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, presented with exertional shortness of breath. On examination, she appears very pale and there is a pulmonic flow murmur heard over the second intercostal space. Her vitals are: BP: 130/80mm of Hg; HR: 80/min and regular; RR: 16/min; Temperature 36.7°C (98°F).Initial evaluation reveals hemoglobin of 8.2 gm/dL. WBC count is within normal limits. You are suspecting an iron deficiency anemia secondary to excessive bleeding. Which one of the following studies is most definite for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia?

A 42-year-old woman hit her breast with a broom handle while doing housework. She noticed a lump in that area at the time, and 1 week later the lump was still present. She then sought medical advice. On physical examination, she has a 3-cm, hard mass deep inside the affected breast and some superficial ecchymosis over the area. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step, or steps, in management?

A 42-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with multiple complaints. She reports that she had been feeling well until approximately one month ago, when she began to feel increasingly fatigued and weak. For the past two weeks, she has had anorexia, nausea, and abdominal pain. In the past three days, she has had two syncopal episodes. Her medical history is unremarkable and she takes no medications. She denies tobacco and drug use and drinks wine only occasionally. Physical exam reveals a temperature of 36.7°C (98°F), blood pressure of 86/52 mmHg, heart rate of 90/min, and respiratory rate of 18/min. Her cardiac exam is normal and her lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. You note hyperpigmentation of the skin in the palmar creases. Which of the following additional findings is most likely to be present in this patient?

A 43-year-old African American woman comes to the physician because of her concern regarding breast cancer. She has no complaints at present. In past years, she had noted bilateral breast tenderness prior to her menses, but this has since abated. She has no medical problems. She had two cesarean deliveries, but no other surgeries. She takes a low-dose oral contraceptive pill and has no known drug allergies. She does not smoke, and her family history is negative. Physical examination is normal. All mammograms (yearly since age 40) have been negative to date. She wants to know whether BRCA1 and BRCA2 screening would be appropriate for her. Which of the following is the correct response?

A 43-year-old male complains of frequent epigastric burning not relieved by antacids. The sensation is typically brought on by heavy lifting at work and takes 10-15 minutes to go away. He denies having associated arm or neck pain, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing. His past medical history is significant for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosed five years ago, for which he takes low-dose prednisone daily. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg and pulse is 80/min and regular. Heart, lung, and abdomen exams are unremarkable. EKG is normal. Which of the following is the best next step in managing this patient?

A 43-year-old male presents to a physician with an ulcer on the shaft of his penis. The ulcer is non-tender, with a raised border and a smooth base. There is bilateral inguinal adenopathy. The rest of the examination is unremarkable. Dark field microscopy of a specimen from the ulcer base reveals spirochetes. Which of the following additional screening studies should be performed on this patient?

A 43-year-old man was brought to the ED after he was unable to get out of his bed today due to leg weakness. He has been having constant back pain over the past several days. His past medical history is significant for poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and hypertension. His temperature is 38.3°C (101°F), pulse is 100/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 150/100 mmHg. On examination, he smells of urine. His back is tender to palpation over L2-L5. Neurologic exam reveals 3/5 strength in the lower extremities with decreased sensation to temperature and light touch. He has an extensor plantar response bilaterally. Which of the following is the best next step in evaluating this patient?

A 43-year-old woman presents to the emergency department complaining of confusion. Her other complaints include increased thirst and "using the bathroom more frequently." She denies any fever, chills, headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, or cough. Her past medical history is significant for bipolar disorder that is well-controlled by medication. She does not drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use illicit drugs. Her vital signs are stable, and physical exam is unremarkable. Laboratory studies reveal the following: Sodium 154 mEq/L, Potassium 4.1 mEq/L, Chloride 116 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 28 mEq/L, Glucose 95 mg/dl, Urine osmolality 250 mOsm/L, Plasma osmolality 326 mOsm/L. What is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms and laboratory findings?

A 44-year-old unrestrained male driver is brought to the ER after a motor vehicle accident. Cervical spine is immobilized. His breathing is normal. At the scene of the accident, his blood pressure is 70/30 mm Hg. After receiving two liters of intravenous fluid, his blood pressure is 80/40 mmHg. Neck veins are collapsed. Lungs are clear to auscultation. Abdomen is mildly distended. There is no obvious source of external bleeding. No intraperitoneal blood or solid organ damage is seen on ultrasonogram or diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Imaging studies reveal a pelvic fracture and fracture of the right fourth rib. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 44-year-old woman complains bitterly of severe headache that has been present for several weeks and has not responded to the usual over-the-counter headache remedies. She locates the headache to the center of her head. It is pretty much constant but is worse in the mornings. She has no other neurologic signs or symptoms. She has had "tension headaches" in the past, but she says that those were located in the back of her head and felt different from the present pain. She is currently under considerable stress because she has been unemployed since undergoing modified radical mastectomy for T3, N1, M0 breast cancer 2 years ago. She had several courses of post-operative chemotherapy, which she eventually discontinued because of the side effects. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 44-year-old woman complains of urinary incontinence. She loses urine when she laughs, coughs, and plays tennis. Urodynamic studies are performed in the office with a multiple-channel machine. If this patient has genuine stress urinary incontinence, which of the following do you expect to see on the cystometric study?

A 44-year-old woman has a palpable nodule in the right lobe of her thyroid gland. The nodule measures 2 cm and is firm. The rest of the thyroid gland cannot be felt and is not tender. She also describes losing weight in spite of a ravenous appetite, palpitations, and heat intolerance. She is thin, fidgety, and constantly moving, with moist skin and a pulse of 105/min. She has no exophthalmos or pretibial edema. Her TSH is reported as much lower than normal, and she has elevated levels of free T4. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 45-year-old Asian-American female comes to the physician due to bloating, flatulence, abdominal cramps and explosive watery diarrhea. These symptoms occur after ingesting dairy products. She has not had any weight loss. She has not had bone pain or easy bruising. Physical examination shows abdominal distention and borborygmi. You decide to investigate the patient further. Which of the following test results is most likely to be observed?

A 45-year-old Caucasian male presents in the office with a movement disorder and behavioral disturbance. For the past month, he has been having frequent, sudden, jerky and irregular movements of his upper extremities. He has become irritable, and does not visit his family or friends. He is a business executive, and co-workers have commented on the serious decline in his performance. His father had similar problems and died in a nursing home CT scan is ordered. Which of the following is a typical CT finding in such patients?

A 45-year-old executive experiences increasingly painful retrosternal heartburn, especially at night. He has been chewing antacid tablets. An esophagogram shows a hiatal hernia. In determining the proper treatment for a sliding hiatal hernia, which of the following is the most useful modality?

A 45-year-old female comes to the office for the evaluation of excessive hair growth over her face and body. Her hirsutism rapidly developed over a period of 3 months. She underwent bilateral tubal ligation 4 years ago. Her menstrual cycles were regular in the past, but for the last 3 months, she has not had a menstrual period. She denies any hot flashes or vaginal discomfort. On physical examination, her height is 5'2" (169 cm) and weight is 140 lbs (63.5kg). A large amount of coarse terminal hair is noted on her face, chest and lower abdomen. She appears masculine and has an enlarged clitoris. There is significant temporal balding. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 45-year-old female with a past medical history of rheumatoid arthritis presents to the emergency department with right calf pain and swelling of sudden onset. She denies fever, chills, dyspnea, chest pain, or history of trauma to the leg. She has smoked a half pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years. Her only medicine is methotrexate for her rheumatoid arthritis. On physical examination, her temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 70/min, blood pressure is 140/80 mmHg, and respirations are 14/min. Her BMI is 30 kg/m2. Examination of the right calf reveals mild redness, warmth and tenderness. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 45-year-old female with severe depression, migraine and rheumatoid arthritis is brought in after she was found to have nausea, fever and upper abdominal discomfort. The patient describes severe tinnitus and vertigo. She admits that she overdosed on one of her medications. Her temperature is 38.5°C (101.3°F), blood pressure is 120/76 mm Hg, pulse is 90/min and respirations are 24/min. Physical examination is unremarkable. Which of the following acid-base statuses is most likely in this patient? pH, PaCO2 (mm Hg), HCO3- (mEq/L)

A 45-year-old G3P3 presents for her yearly examination. She last saw a doctor 7 years ago after she had her last child. She had three vaginal deliveries, the last of which was complicated by gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. She has not been sexually active in the past year. She once had an abnormal Pap smear for which she underwent cryotherapy. She denies any medical problems. Her family history is significant for coronary artery disease in her dad and a maternal aunt who developed ovarian cancer at the age of 67. Which of the following is best screening approach for this patient?

A 45-year-old male comes to the hospital because of severe retrosternal chest pain that started suddenly a few hours ago. He says that he has been having mild chest pain for the past few days, but that this pain is completely different. His past medical history is significant for nonischemic cardiomyopathy for which he takes furosemide, carvedilol, spironolactone, lisinopril and potassium chloride. He also has HIV infection but is not taking any edications related to this diagnosis by his own choice. On physical examination, his temperature is 38.9C (102F), blood pressure is 110/65 mm Hg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 22/min. He is in obvious distress secondary to pain. His lungs are clearto auscultation and the remainder of his physical examination is unremarkable. His EKG is within normal limits. Chest X-ray shows a widened mediastinum and mediastinal air. W hich of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 45-year-old male comes to the physician for epigastric pain and diarrhea. His past medical history is significant for chronic duodenal ulcers. He has been smoking 2 packs of cigarettes daily for the past 10 years. He occasionally drinks alcohol. He denies illegal drug use or multiple sexual partners. Physical examination shows abdominal tenderness without rebound or rigidity. Endoscopy shows prominent gastric folds, chronic duodenal ulcer, and upper jejunal ulceration. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the diagnosis of this patient?

A 45-year-old male immigrant from Haiti complains of cough and tenacious mucopurulent sputum for several months. He denies fever or chest pain, but notes shortness of breath and occasional blood- tinged sputum. He has received antibiotic treatment for similar symptoms twice in the past year. He has smoked 1 pack of cigarettes daily for the past 20 years. On physical examination, his temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F), blood pressure is 120/68 mm Hg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are 14/min. On lung auscultation there are coarse crepitations at the bilateral bases. Chest x-ray reveals prominent bronchioles in the lower lobes but is otherwise unremarkable. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 45-year-old male presents to the office with complaints of progressive difficulty in swallowing both solids and liquids. His other complaints include occasional regurgitation of undigested food, and a nighttime cough which disturbs his sleep. The physical examination is unremarkable. Barium studies show a dilated esophagus, loss of esophageal peristalsis, and smooth tapering of the distal esophagus. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 45-year-old male with Burkitt's lymphoma is being treated with combination chemotherapy and allopurinol. On the 3rd day of treatment, he is noted to have decreased urine output and increased levels of BUN and creatinine. The patient is started on vigorous hydration. EKG reveals prolonged QT intervals. The suspected diagnosis is tumor lysis syndrome. Complete metabolic profile is ordered. Which of the following sets of results are expected in this patient? (Calcium, Phosphate, Potassium, Uric Acid)

A 45-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of severe right flank pain that began abrupdy 3 hours ago. The pain comes in waves and radiates down to the ipsilateral testis. The patient is nauseated and extremely restless. His temperature is 37.0C (98.6F). Dipstick examination of urine is positive for hematuria. Urinary pH is 5.8. Which of die following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after being involved in a motor vehicle collision. He is unable to void. Examination shows blood at the urethral meatus and a scrotal hematoma. His temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), blood pressure is 100/50, pulse is 100/min and respirations are 16/min. Examination shows a high-riding prostate with no other signs of trauma. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a two-day history of fever, chills and productive cough. He reports having had two episodes of pneumonia over the past six months, both of which resolved completely with levofloxacin therapy. He smoked cigarettes for twenty years, but quit recently with the second bout of pneumonia. Today, his temperature is 38.9°C (102°F), pulse is 98/minute, blood pressure is 110/80 mm Hg, and respirations are 18/min. On physical examination, there are crackles and bronchial breath sounds over the right lower lobe of the lung. Chest x-ray shows right lower lobe consolidation; previous x-rays also show consolidation in this area. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 45-year-old man presents with two days of bilateral hand pain that is most severe in his wrists. Physical examination reveals bilateral wrist tenderness, thickening of the distal fingers, and convex nail beds. There is nicotine staining of the right index and middle fingers. He states that he has been smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day for the past 25 years. Chest examination reveals decreased breath sounds and a prolonged expiratory phase. The patient relates the pain's onset to a data entry job he recently started. He notes that his boss believes he is fabricating his pain to get off work. His job records reveal numerous sick leaves. Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action?

A 45-year-old Mexican male presents with a 2-day history of traces of blood on the tissue paper after he wipes. He does not have gross blood mixed with stool, but on one occasion there were drops of blood in the toilet after defecation. He has no past medical history or family history of cancer or other significant disease. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 45-year-old unconscious male is brought to the emergency room. His airway is secured, oxygen is administered, and his vitals are as follows Temperature 36.4°C (97.8°F); PR 102/min; BP 90/65 mmHg; RR 27/min. An IV line is secured and blood and urine samples are drawn. Lab results are as follows: Blood urea nitrogen 40 mg/dl, Calcium 9.1 mg/dl, ALT 50 U/L, AST 60 U/L, Ammonia 15 micro-mol/1 (Normal is 9-33 micro-mol/1), PT 13 sec, APTT 30 sec, Amylase 100 U/L, Glucose 400 mg/dl, Sodium 134 meq/L, Potassium 5.2 meq/L, Chloride 97 meq/L, Bicarbonate 12 meq/L. Arterial Blood Gases: PH 7.19, PaCO2 25 mm Hg, PaO2 80 mm Hg. Blood and urine are positive for ketones. A diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is made and IV infusion of normal saline and regular insulin are started. What will be a most reliable index for monitoring the response to treatment?

A 45-year-old white male comes to the emergency room with "all sorts of things going wrong with him", for the last few months. He has a severe headache, chest and abdominal pain. He is sweating profusely. He has lost weight recently, has diarrhea and palpitations. He is feeling hot all the time. Vital signs reveal BP: 190/100mm of Hg; PR 124/min; RR 18/min; Temperature 37.7° C (99.8°F). On physical examination he has enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Examination of the thyroid reveals multiple thyroid nodules. FNA biopsy reveals thyroid C-cell hyperplasia. Which of the following can also be found on laboratory results?

A 45-year-old white male patient presents for the evaluation of high blood pressure. He also complains of polyuria, polydipsia and fatigue. His past medical and family histories are unremarkable. He does not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs. His blood pressure is 180/100mmHg. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show low serum potassium and high plasma aldosterone levels. CT scan of the abdomen shows a small, right adrenal mass. Which of the following additional findings is most likely to be present in this patient?

A 45-year-old white male presented to his primary care physician due to easy fatigability. He is a pure vegetarian and a known alcoholic. Physical examination revealed significant pallor. His hemoglobin level was 10.8gm/dl, and serum iron studies were within normal limits. His physician placed him on folic acid (1 mg daily), and his hemoglobin level increased to 13gm/dl over a period of several months. The patient continued to take folic acid for the next two years. On his next follow-up visit, he complained of gradual memory loss and difficulty in maintaining his balance for the past six months. Which of the following is the most likely thing to consider at this point?

A 45-year-old white male presents to the ER after an episode of syncope. His medical history is unremarkable except for an upper respiratory infection one week ago. On physical examination, his temperature is 37.2°C (99°F), pulse is 90/min, blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg and respirations are 13/min. His neck veins are distended and his heart sounds are distant. His lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. Chest x-ray reveals small bilateral pleural effusions and an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Which of the following EKG findings is fairly specific for his condition?

A 45-year-old white man is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. He is waving wildly, trying to hit the “flying bats” that are all around him. He is very agitated and smells strongly of alcohol. The ambulance crew said they found the patient bleeding from the mouth outside a bar. They could not find any laceration on his mouth or lips and believe that the bleeding is internal. The patient screams that he will not stand for this maltreatment any longer and tries to stand up, at which point he begins to vomit. Blood pours out of his mouth, and the patient says, “Here we go again.” The ambulance crew tells the physician that there was also a lot of vomit at the bar where he was found. The physician is able to subdue the patient to obtain his vital signs. His blood pressure is 118/78 mm Hg, pulse is 98/ min, respiratory rate is 22/min, and temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F). The physician is unable to obtain a history on the patient or contact any relatives or friends. No signs of obvious trauma are observed. Which of the following is the best next step in diagnosis?

A 45-year-old woman has pain in her fingers on exposure to cold, arthralgias, and difficulty swallowing solid food. What is the best diagnostic test?

A 45-year-old woman presents to her physician's office complaining of night sweats and insomnia. She states that for the past month she has woken up completely soaked with perspiration on several occasions. She has had irregular menstrual periods for the past six months. She consumes one ounce of alcohol nightly before going to the bed, and quit smoking 5 years ago. She has a history of hypertension controlled with hydrochlorothiazide. She denies illicit drug use. Her temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are 14/min. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the best next step in management?

A 45-year-old woman presents with a 1-week history of jaundice, anorexia, and right upper quadrant discomfort. On examination she is icteric, with a tender right upper quadrant and liver span of 14 cm. There is no shifting dullness or pedal edema and the heart and lungs are normal. On further inquiry, she reports consuming one bottle of wine a day for the past 6 months. Which of the following laboratory tests are most likely to be characteristic of a patient with jaundice secondary to alcoholic hepatitis?

A 45-year-old woman who had two normal pregnancies 15 and 18 years ago presents with the complaint of amenorrhea for 7 months. She expresses the desire to become pregnant again. After exclusion of pregnancy, which of the following tests is next indicated in the evaluation of this patient’s amenorrhea?

A 45-year-old woman with chronic alcohol abuse admitted 3 days ago for nausea and severe diarrhea now complains of perioral and finger tingling. She was admitted for hydration after 1 week of severe watery diarrhea. She has been receiving intravenous hydration and dextrose but has not been able to take oral nutrition secondary to continued nausea. Her blood pressure is 130/74 mmHg, pulse is 68/min, and respiratory rate is 16/min. She is afebrile. Physical examination is significant for facial twitching on percussion of her facial nerve just anterior to the ear, as well as the induction of carpal spasm after the inflation of a blood pressure cuff on her arm. Which of the following is most likely to have caused these findings?

A 46-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-day history of fever and chills. His fever was gradual in onset. He also complains of perineal and back pain, which is worse towards the sacral area. He has repeated urges to urinate, along with pain on micturition. Rectal examination shows a boggy, exquisitely tender prostate. Laboratory studies show: Hb 13 g/dl, Hct 40%, WBC 12,000/cmm, Platelets 329,000/cmm, Dipstick urinalysis:, Esterase +++, PH 5.0, Nitrite +++, WBC 50+, Protein +, Blood ++. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 46-year-old white male presents with chronic diarrhea, abdominal distention, flatulence, and weight loss. He also has arthralgias and bulky, frothy stools. He has never had blood transfusions, tattooing or highrisk sexual behaviors. His temperature is 38.3°C (101°F), blood pressure is 130/90 mm Hg, pulse is 84/min, and respirations are 16/min. Physical examination shows generalized lymphadenopathy and skin hyperpigmentation. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnostic test?

A 46-year-old woman comes to the office and says, "I can't believe I've lost so much weight in the last 2 months because I seem to be eating much more than ever. I also find it odd that I drink lemonade all the time, and I have to rush to the bathroom regularly. It seems like everything in me is vanishing."Her temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), blood pressure is 110/70mm Hg, pulse is 98/min, and respirations are 14/min .Physical examination reveals a lean woman with an erythematous, scaly plaques on her face, and on her buttocks. The laboratory studies reveal: WBC 6,400 /mm3, Hemoglobin 8.7 g/dL, Hematocrit 29%, Platelets 193,000/mm3, Sodium 144 mEq/L, Potassium 3.6 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 21 mEq/L, Blood urea nitrogen 16 mg/dl, Creatinine 0.6 mg/dL, Glucose 245 mg/dL. Which of the following is expected in this patient?

A 46-year-old woman was applying her make-up while also drinking her morning cup of coffee. She noticed in the mirror that a round, 2-cm mass would move up and down in the lower part of her neck whenever she swallowed. Her physician confirms that she has a single, firm, thyroid nodule in the right lobe. There are no other abnormalities in the history or physical examination. Her pulse is 82/min and regular. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 46-year-old woman with nausea and vomiting presents to hospital because of light- headedness when standing and decreased urine output. She looks unwell; the blood pressure supine is 90/60 mm Hg and 80/60 mm Hg when standing. Her abdominal, heart, and lung examinations are normal. Which of the following laboratory values suggests prerenal azotemia in this patient?

A 47 -year-old male comes to the emergency department complaining of an intense burning pain in his abdomen. The pain started a couple of hours ago and is getting worse. He also has nausea and vomited twice. The vomitus is described as dark red-brown in color. He drank "quite a bit of alcohol' last night. He has had several episodes of this type of pain before, and was diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease five years ago. Several courses of H. Pylori eradication therapy have been prescribed in the past, but the patient admits to being non-compliant. He admits to smoking and drinking heavily. His temperature is 36.8° C (98.2° F), blood pressure is 126/88 mm Hg, pulse is 98/min, and oxygen saturation is 96% on room air. The physical examination is remarkable for marked epigastric tenderness. No masses or rebound tenderness are appreciated. IV fluids are administered, blood tests are taken, and upper Gl endoscopy is being arranged. Which of the following serum markers is most likely to be elevated in this patient?

A 47-year old woman comes to the clinic because of worsening left breast swelling and pain. She had mastitis when she nursed her first child 20 years ago. She has not seen a doctor since that time. She is afebrile. Breast examination shows the left breast is enlarged with a 7 x 6 cm area of edema and erythema. A poorly localized mass without fluctuation is palpated in that area. Scant non-bloody discharge is noted on the nipple, and several large axillary nodes are palpated. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 47-year-old man is extricated from an automobile after a motor vehicle accident. He is hypotensive with a systolic blood pressure of 80. The patient has a steering wheel bruise on the anterior chest. His electrocardiogram (ECG) shows some premature ventricular complexes, and his cardiac isoenzymes are elevated. Which of the following is the best next test for evaluation for a blunt cardiac injury?

A 48-year-old high school teacher with no prior medical history presents to his primary care physician after feeling extremely fatigued for > 1 month. Previously an avid runner, he has recently experienced dyspnea on moderate exertion. Although he denies vomiting, he admits to intermittent episodes of diarrhea. His blood pressure is 73/37 mmHg and he is afebrile. On physical examination his skin is warm and erythematous, and his jugular venous pressure is elevated. Cardiac examination reveals a systolic murmur near the right border of the sternum that is accentuated with inspiration. Which of the following is most consistent with these findings?

A 48-year-old man with a strong history of cigarette use and heavy alcohol intake presents with an intraoral mass. Biopsy shows squamous cell cancer. Chest xray shows hyperinflated lungs but is otherwise normal. Which of the following is indicated as part of his staging workup?

A 48-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis has several episodes of massive hematemesis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirms that he is bleeding from esophageal varices. Sclerosing injections fail to control the bleeding. After the patient has been transfused 7 units of packed red cells, he is subjected to an emergency side-to-side portacaval shunt. At the time of surgery he has a serum albumin level of 3.1 g/dL, a total bilirubin of 1,7 mg/dL, and a prothrombin time (PT) 2 seconds above the control After surgery, the bleeding stops, and the patient wakes up briefly from the anesthetic but then lapses into a coma. The reason for his neurologic deterioration would most likely be revealed by a laboratory determination of which of the following?

A 48-year-old white male complains of generalized bone pain after undergoing bowel surgery for inflammatory bowel disease. His pain is more severe at the lower spine, pelvis, and lower extremities. Examination shows tenderness over the lower spine, pelvis, and lower extremities. Proximal muscle weakness is noted. X-rays of the lumbar spine show decreased bone density with blurring of the spine. X-rays of the femoral neck show pseudofractures, bilaterally. Which of the following lab abnormalities is consistent with this patient's diagnosis?

A 48-year-old woman presents with a change in bowel habit and 10-lb weight loss over the past 2 months despite preservation of appetite. She notices increased abdominal gas, particularly after fatty meals. The stools are malodorous and occur 2 to 3 times per day; no rectal bleeding is noticed. The symptoms are less prominent when she follows a clear liquid diet. Which of the following is the most likely histological abnormality associated with this patient’s symptoms?

A 48-year-old woman presents with a painless mass located in her left breast. Physical examination finds a firm, nontender, 3-cm mass in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast. There was retraction of the skin overlying this mass, and several enlarged lymph nodes were found in her left axilla. The mass was resected and histologic sections revealed an invasive ductal carcinoma. Biopsies from her axillary lymph nodes revealed the presence of metastatic disease to 4 of 18 examined axillary lymph nodes. Response to therapy with Trastuzumab is most closely associated with expression of which of the following?

A 49-year-old African American female complains of progressive exertional dyspnea. She also complains of swelling and pain in her finger joints over the last 6 months. She has been treated for severe heartburn with pantoprazole and for hypertension with lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide. Her blood pressure is 145/100 mmHg and her heart rate is 80/min. Physical examination reveals prominent jugular venous distention. Her lungs are clear to auscultation, and no murmurs are present on cardiac auscultation. Her skin is thickened and discolored over the fingertips and interphalangeal joints. There is mild pitting ankle edema. Which of the following is most likely to be positive in this patient?

A 49-year-old African-American male comes to the office and complains of headaches which have been worsening for the last three months. His other complaints include diffuse joint pains, pain on the lateral half of his right hand, difficulty getting his wedding ring out due to finger swelling, and difficulty holding and gripping objects with his right hand. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, which has not been controlled well despite compliance with medications, very low salt diet, and regular exercise. His current medications are amlodipine, lisinopril, and hydrochlorothiazide. His blood pressure is 146/98 mmHg, pulse is 90/min, temperature is 36.7°C (98°F) and respirations are 14/min. His facial features appear coarse when compared to his driver's license photo, which was taken three years ago. His palms are sweaty and have a doughy feel. His skin is oily. There are multiple skin tags, particularly around his neck area. Hand examination reveals positive Tinel's and Phalen's sign. Which of the following will be the most helpful in confirming the clinical diagnosis?

A 49-year-old man crashes his car against a bridge abutment at high speed. On arrival at the emergency department, he is breathing well, but he has multiple bruises over the chest, and there is a specific spot at about the middle of the sternum that is exquisitely painful to touch. Gentle palpation of that area elicits a gritty feeling of bone grating on bone. He distinctly recalls hitting the steering wheel with his chest and is certain that he hurt that particular spot in that manner. Anteroposterior and lateral chest x-ray films confirm that he has a sternal fracture. The films do not show any mediastinal widening or mediastinal air, and both lung fields are clear. His vital signs are normal, and he does not have subcutaneous emphysema. Which of the following studies is most likely to show evidence of additional injuries?

A 49-year-old man presents with a three-week history of fever, weight loss, and anorexia. He also reports muscle aches. He has no cough or shortness of breath. He has a thirty pack-year history of cigarette smoking. His temperature is 38.9°C (102°F), blood pressure is 120/76mm Hg, pulse is 90/min, and respirations are 16/min. Lungs are clear to auscultation. The rest of the physical examination is unremarkable. Blood cultures reveal Streptococcus bovis. Echocardiogram reveals vegetations on the mitral valve. Other than antibiotic treatment, what further step is recommended in this patient?

A 5-month-old infant is brought to the physician for a routine visit. The child was born full term without complications. The infant has been seen several times for poor weight gain. The infant takes 5 ounces of formula every 4 hours, and has been tried on increased calorie formula without success. Family history is significant only for nephrolithiasis. On examination, the infant's weight is < 5%, height is at the 20% and head circumference is at the 20%. The infant appears thin, but the remainder of the physical examination is unremarkable. Screening labs are shown below. Chemistry panel: Serum sodium 140 mEq/L, Serum potassium 3.0 mEq/L, Chloride 113 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 15 mEq/L, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 10 mg/dl, Serum creatinine 0.5 mg/dl, Calcium 9.0 mg/dl, Blood glucose 98 mg/dl. The urine pH is 7.9 and urinary sodium and potassium are within normal limits. What is the most likely cause for this patient's failure to thrive?

A 5-month-old male infant has a urine output of less than 0.1 mL/kg/hr shortly after undergoing major surgery. On examination, he has generalized edema. His blood pressure is 94/48 mm Hg, pulse is 140/min, and respirations are 20/min. His blood urea nitrogen is 38 mg/dL, and serum creatinine is 1.4 mg/dL. Initial urinalysis shows a specific gravity of 1.018 and 2+ protein. Microscopic examination of the urine sample reveals 1 WBC per high-power field (HPF), 18 RBCs per HPF, and 5 granular casts per HPF. His fractional excretion of sodium is 3.2 %. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 5-week-old bottle-fed boy presents with persistent and worsening projectile vomiting, poor weight gain, and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. Of the following diagnostic modalities, which would most likely reveal the diagnosis?

A 5-week-old infant presents with a 1-week history of progressive nonbilious emesis, associated with a 24-hour history of decreased urine output. The infant continues to be active and eager to feed. On examination, the infant has a sunken fontanels and decreased skin turgor. The abdomen is scaphoid, and with a test feed, there is a visible peristaltic wave in the epigastrium. Electrolytes and a urinalysis are evaluated. Which of the following laboratory findings are most likely to be seen in this patient?

A 5-year old girl is brought to the emergency department in December by her mother, who complains that her daughter seems confused. The mother reports that her daughter has complained of intermittent headaches since the two of them moved into the first floor of an older apartment building 6 months ago. The mother has been at home with the daughter for the past 24 hours and the girl appears lethargic and is complaining of joint aches, nausea, and a headache. Her pulse is 120/min, blood pressure is 130/85 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 25/min, and oxygen saturation is 100% on room air. The girl’s mother also notes having a slight headache that started yesterday. Which of the following diagnostic tests should be most rapidly pursued?

A 5-year-old boy develops a headache, cough, myalgia and a fever. He has been a healthy child with all immunizations up to date. He is given a decongestant and an aspirin for his symptoms with some relief. However, 4 days later, he is brought back by his parents because of persistent vomiting and irritability. On physical examination, he is found to be semicomatose, becoming combative on stimulation. Which of the following levels should be measured to aid in the diagnosis of this patient?

A 5-year-old boy is brought to clinic with increasing right lower foot pain. He stepped on a nail several days ago. At that time, the family had sought medical attention. The child was given a tetanus shot, and the wound was extensively irrigated. On examination, the foot is tender, swollen, warm, and erythematous. Osteomyelitis is suspected. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 5-year-old boy is brought to the clinic by his mother because he was sent home by the school nurse. The nurse claims to have heard a murmur in his chest. The child has always been healthy, and has never had any shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness or any other illnesses. On examination, the child appears alert, and his vital signs are stable. Auscultation of the chest reveals a grade-2 systolic ejection murmur at the left sternal border, but no other extra sounds. The murmur changes with position. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 5-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with 2-day history of fever, anorexia, loose stools, and yellow skin color. He attends a large daycare center. On physical examination, his temperature is 38.1 C (100.7 F), blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg, pulse is 74/min, and respirations are 15/min. Initial laboratory evaluation reveals a total bilirubin of 1.8 mg/dL and alanine aminotransferase of 764 U/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnostic test?

A 50-year-old female is evaluated for hypertension. Her blood pressure is 130/98 mmHg. She complains of polyuria and mild muscle weakness. She is on no blood pressure medication. On physical examination, the PMI is displaced to the sixth intercostal space. There is no sign of congestive heart failure and no edema. Laboratory values are as follows: Na+: 147 mEq/dL, K +: 2.3 mEq/dL, Cl−: 112 mEq/dL, HCO3: 27 mEq/dL. The patient denies the use of diuretics or over-the-counter agents to decrease fluid retention or promote weight loss. She does not eat licorice. Which of the following tests is most useful in establishing a diagnosis?

A 50-year-old G4P4 presents for her well-woman examination. She had one cesarean delivery followed by three vaginal deliveries. Her menses stopped 1 year ago and she occasionally still has a hot flash. She tells you that about 10 years ago she was treated with a laser conization for carcinoma in situ of her cervix. Since that time, all of her Pap tests have been normal. What recommendation should you make regarding how frequently she should undergo Pap smear testing?

A 50-year-old male presents to his physician complaining of daytime somnolence. He reports that yesterday, he fell asleep while stopped at a red light. His wife adds that he is a habitual snorer, and sometimes seems to stop breathing for seconds at a time while sleeping. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, a 25 pack-year smoking history, and a two beer per day drinking habit. Physical examination reveals an obese, middle-aged man in no apparent distress. His pulse is 88/min, blood pressure is 160/100 mm Hg, and respirations are 14/min. The remainder of the physical examination, including chest auscultation, is within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 50-year-old male undergoes vagotomy and pyloroplasty for a peptic ulcer perforation. His early postoperative course is complicated by fever and hypotension, which are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and IV fluid support. He then recovers well; however, on post-operative day 6 he develops nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and profuse, watery diarrhea. His temperature is 38.9°C (102° F), blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, pulse is 120/min, and respirations are 18/min. Abdominal examination shows tenderness in the sigmoidal area. Test of the stool for occult blood is negative. Laboratory studies show: Hb 11.5g/dL, Platelet count 180, 000/cmm, Leukocyte count 17, 500/cmm, segmented neutrophils 75%, Bands 10%, Eosinophils 1%, Lymphocytes 14%. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 50-year-old man comes in for his annual check-up. There is a swelling on his left eyelid, which he casually acknowledges by saying that it has appeared "on-and-off for the past 2 years." It initially starts as a painful lesion which regresses with hot compresses, but then eventually reappears. On examination of his left eye, you note a nodular, painless, rubbery lesion on the eyelid without any discharge, redness or other abnormalities. What is the best next step in the management of his eye lesion?

A 50-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-day history of constipation and not passing flatus. For the last 3 days he has been having intermittent, but worsening, right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain. He has vomited several times today and feels nauseated. Examination shows a distended abdomen with tenderness in the RLQ; there is no rebound; there are no masses or hernias; bowel sounds are absent. Rectal examination shows an enlarged prostate. An upright x-ray film of the abdomen shows gas distributed throughout the small and large bowel, and some fluid levels. After nasogastric tube placement and hydration, his temperature is 36.50C (97.60F), blood pressure is 140/80 mm Hg, pulse is 57/min, and respirations are 12/min. Laboratory studies show: RBC count 4.5 million, WBC 7,400, Na 140, K 3.5, Cl 100, BUN 15 mg/dl, Creatinine 1.0 mg/dl, Urine pH 5.5, Urine sediment: 2 W BC and 15 RBC/high power field, and needle-shaped crystals are present. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 50-year-old man presents with a 3-hour history of right arm pain. Two weeks ago, he was treated for superficial thrombophlebitis of the right cephalic and right saphenous veins. For the past two months, he has had significant back pain, which is being treated with NSAIDs. His temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), blood pressure is 140/80 mmHg, pulse is 70/min, and respirations are 10/min. Physical examination shows a swollen, ruddy and warm right arm, but is otherwise unremarkable. Cervical and chest x-ray films show no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hct 50%, Platelets 120,000/cmm, WBC 9,600/cmm, Neutrophils 60%, Eosinophils 2%, Basophils 0%, Lymphocytes 31%, Monocytes 7%, PT 25 sec, PTT 39 sec, Fibrinogen 300 mg/dL, Fibrin split products positive. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 50-year-old man presents with intractable peptic ulcer disease, severe esophagitis, and abdominal pain. Which of the following is most consistent with the diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?

A 50-year-old man with a history of alcohol and tobacco abuse has complained of difficulty swallowing solid food for the past 2 months. More recently, swallowing fluids has also become a problem. He has noted black, tarry stools on occasion. The patient has lost 10 lb. Which of the following statements is correct?

A 50-year-old pale man comes to the office and says, "For the past year, I've been feeling very weak. I get tired early, and I feel that I've lost my sense of humor. I find it difficult to remember things now." When asked about his social history, he says, "I'm jobless and am living on social security benefits. I don't drink or smoke anymore, but I was charged with driving under the influence three times before." His parents died of old age. He shares his room with four friends. His vital signs are normal. CBC reveals: WBC 5,500 /mm3, Hemoglobin 7.0 mg/dl, Hematocrit 22%, Platelets 196,000/mm3, RBC count 1.7 million, MCV 119 fl, MCH 36, MCHC 28%, Reticulocyte count 04%. Peripheral smear shows anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, and basophilic stippling. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 50-year-old salesman is on a yacht with a client when he has a severe vomiting and retching spell punctuated by a sharp substernal pain. He arrives in your emergency room 4 hours later and has a chest film in which the left descending aorta is outlined by air density. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in his workup?

A 50-year-old white male presents with complaints of bitter taste and central chest pain. He further describes he pain as moderate-to-severe, occurring during or after meals, non-radiating, and burning. The pain is relieved with antacids, and worsened by lying supine. He has lost 10 lbs (4.5kg) over the past 5-months (unintentional). He has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes daily for 20 years. His vital signs are stable, and he is afebrile. The physical examination is unremarkable. Chest x-ray and EKG show no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 50-year-old woman comes to the office and complains of right shoulder pain which radiates to her hand. She has had cough for many weeks, and feels "more tired than the usual." In addition, her fingers are always swollen, and she now finds it difficult to walk because her knees give way. She has had rheumatoid arthritis for the past 10 years and is used to having pain in her joints; however, she believes that this pain is not due to her arthritis. She takes celecoxib for rheumatoid arthritis. She admits to smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for the past 25 years and to drinking one odd beer every night. All her family members have crippling rheumatoid arthritis. Her vital signs are stable. She is afebrile. Physical examination reveals drooping of the right eyelid and miosis. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 51-year-old man comes to the office for his annual examination. He is apparently healthy, and does not have any complaints. His diet is normal, and he exercises regularly. He experiences some stress at work, but says that he is "strong and can fight it out." His father died of a heart attack 4 years ago, and his mother has Alzheimer's disease. His brother has recently been diagnosed with colonic polyps. His vital signs are stable. Hematology and chemistries are within normal limits, but the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is positive. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 51-year-old man comes to you complaining of increased itching, especially after bathing. He also has occasional headaches and dizziness. There is no history of smoking or alcohol use. His sister has psychiatric problems and both parents died in a car accident, many years ago. His vitals are; Temperature: 36.7°C (98.2°F); BP 148/90 mm Hg; PR 77/min; RR 12/min. On examination, his spleen is enlarged and he appears plethoric. CBC was ordered and came back as: WBC 14,500/mm3, Hemoglobin 21.5, Hematocrit 64%, Platelets 521,000/mm3, RBC count 7.6 million, MCH 30, MCHC 36, MCV 92, ROW 15.1 (n=10.3-14.1). Which of the following is expected on further work up?

A 51-year-old man presents to the ED complaining of epigastric pain that radiates to his back. He states that he drinks six packs of beer daily. You suspect he has pancreatitis. His BP is 135/75 mm Hg, HR is 90 beats per minute, temperature is 100.1°F, and his RR is 17 breaths per minute. Laboratory results reveal WBC 13,000/μL, hematocrit 48%, platelets 110/μL, amylase 1150 U/L, lipase 1450 IU, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 150 U/L, sodium 135 mEq/L, potassium 3.5 mEq/L, chloride 105 mEq/L, bicarbonate 23 mEq/L, BUN 15 mg/dL, creatinine 1.1 mg/dL, and glucose 125 mg/dL. Which of the following laboratory values are most specific for pancreatitis?

A 51-year-old man presents with bilateral enlargement of his breasts. Physical examination is otherwise unremarkable, and the diagnosis of gynecomastia is made. Which of the following histologic features is most likely to be seen when examining a biopsy specimen from this man’s breast tissue?

A 51-year-old woman returns to clinic for a follow-up visit. You recently sent her for a routine mammogram, which shows a small, calcified mass that the radiologist labels as “probably benign finding —short-interval follow-up suggested.” The patient is extremely concerned because, although no one in her family has breast cancer, a close friend recently died of it. Breast examination reveals no abnormalities, and her physical examination is normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action?

A 52-year-old Caucasian male presents complaining of diminished energy for the past three months. He appears very sad and moves slowly. He says that he has been feeling terrible after his wife died in a car accident three months ago. He is filled with thoughts of guilt because he was driving the car when the accident took place. Since then, he has been suffering from disturbed sleep and finds himself unable to focus on his favorite activities, like coin collecting or fishing. He reports being disturbed by repeated flashbacks of the event. He keeps himself aloof and isolated from others because he "just doesn't feel like socializing anymore." He adds that he has a poor appetite and has gained 20 lbs (9.1 kg). He admits to wanting to "end my life in order to escape the memories of that nightmarish day." He is able to contract for safety. What is the most appropriate next step?

A 52-year-old male comes to the office due to a sudden onset of photophobia, redness around the eye and pain in his right eye. He also has nausea and a terrible headache, which has not responded to ibuprofen. He denies any trauma, and has never had such an episode before. He was watching TV when the event started. The physical examination reveals a non-reactive mid-dilated pupil. The eye appears red with conjunctival flushing. What is the best diagnostic test for this patient's condition?

A 52-year-old man presents with 24 hours of pain and swelling of his right knee. He also reports having constipation, excessive urination, and fatigue for the past several months. He denies fevers, chills, and trauma to the knee. He does not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs. His temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F), and blood pressure is 130/76 mmHg. Examination shows tenderness, erythema, and swelling of the right knee. His lab values are: Serum sodium 138 mEq/L, Serum potassium 4.0 mEq/L, Serum creatinine 1.1 mg/dl, Serum calcium 11.9 mg/dl, Serum phosphorous 1.9 mg/dl, Blood glucose 98 mg/dl. Which of the following would synovial fluid analysis from the knee most likely reveal?

A 52-year-old woman in renal failure is listed as a transplant candidate. In order to assess the propriety of the transplant, which of the following combinations represents how a cross-match is performed?

A 52-year-old woman presents with gradual-onset weakness in her leg muscles. She has noted difficulty climbing stairs and raising from a chair that has been worsening for the past few years. She initially related her symptoms to simply being "out of shape." She has no problem with chewing food. She has no pain in her muscles and has no skin rash. She takes metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension. She does not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Examination reveals mild weakness of the thigh muscles in both legs. Deep tendon reflexes and sensory examination shows no abnormalities. Babinski sign is negative. Which of the following is most likely abnormal in this patient?

A 52-year-old woman returns to the clinic for a followup appointment. She has had fatigue and anorexia for the past 6 months that, despite an extensive workup, including age-appropriate cancer screening, thyroid testing, routine blood studies, and psychiatric screening, has eluded a diagnosis. She now returns with the same complaints of fatigue and diminished appetite, but now is complaining also of lower abdominal bloating and pressure. Before these 6 months, she had been in excellent health. Her past medical history is unremarkable, though she does have an uncle who had diabetes and colon cancer, an aunt with breast cancer, and a mother who died of uterine cancer. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals a mildly distended, nontender abdomen that is increased in size since her last visit. Additionally, the pelvic examination reveals a possible nontender adnexal mass, though it is difficult to palpate. A CA-125 level is within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate next diagnostic study?

A 52-year-old woman sees her physician with complaints of fatigue, headache, flank pain, hematuria, and abdominal pain. She undergoes a sestamibi scan that demonstrates persistent uptake in the right superior parathyroid gland at 2 hours. Which of the following laboratory values is most suggestive of her diagnosis?

A 53-year-old male presents to the emergency room complaining of chest pain localized to the left chest wall and following a linear pattern along the fifth intercostal space. His past medical history is significant for polycystic kidney disease and hypertension. His current medications are metoprolol and amlodipine. He has a ten pack-year smoking history but quit 14 years ago. He consumes alcohol occasionally. His blood pressure is 160/90 mmHg and his heart rate is 90/min. Physical examination is noncontributory. His laboratory findings are as follows: Sodium 142 mEq/L, Potassium 4.2 mEq/L, Hemoglobin 9.5 mg/dl, WBC 10,000/mm3, Creatinine 1 .9 mg/dl, BUN 28 mg/dl. Chest x-ray reveals a solitary round lesion in the left upper lung field that measures 2 cm in diameter. It does not about the pleura. Which of the following is the best next step in managing this patient?

A 53-year-old male presents with progressively worsening dyspnea over a 4-month period. He also complains of decreased appetite, weight loss, and nagging epigastric discomfort. His past medical history is significant for a chronic duodenal ulcer for which he takes ranitidine on and off. He does not use tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs. He has worked as a plumber for the past 30 years. On physical examination, his temperature is 36.9°C (98.4°F), blood pressure is 140/86 mm Hg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are 15/min. Physical exam reveals fingernail clubbing and bibasilar end-inspiratory crackles on lung auscultation. Chest x-ray demonstrates ground glass opacities of the lower lung fields, multiple pleural plaques, and one 3x3 cm mass in the right lung periphery. CT guided biopsy of the mass is planned. Biopsy is most likely to show which of the following?

A 53-year-old man presents to the emergency department with severe epigastric abdominal pain. His temperature is 37.2°C, blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg, pulse 110/min, and respirations 20/min. Examination of the heart and lungs is normal, and his abdomen is tender in the epigastric region. His white count is 15,000/mL and amylase is 450 U/L (25–125 U/L). Which of the following laboratory abnormalities is also most likely to be present?

A 53-year-old man presents with constipation and a 20-lb weight loss over the course of 6 months. Colonoscopy reveals a fungating mass in the sigmoid colon; biopsy is consistent with adenocarcinoma. His metastatic workup is negative. A CEA level is obtained and is 4-fold greater than normal. Which of the following is the appropriate use of this test?

A 53-year-old postmenopausal woman, G3P3, presents for evaluation of troublesome urinary leakage 6 weeks in duration. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step in this patient’s evaluation?

A 53-year-old white male comes to your office with long history of cough, periodic shortness of breath, and wheezing. His family history is significant for asthma in his mother and hypertension and diabetes in his father. He is not taking any medications. He smokes two packs a day ever since he was 16 years of age and consumes alcohol occasionally. Physical examination reveals bilateral scattered expiratory wheezes. Which of the following tests can help you most in differentiating asthma from emphysema in this patient?

A 53-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a "lump" in her neck. She says that her masseuse noticed it 1 month ago. There is no associated pain, pressure, or hoarseness. She feels fine and has no other complaints. She has no history of radiation exposure. Examination reveals a palpable thyroid nodule that is approximately 3 cm. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 53-year-old woman comes to the physician for an annual examination. She has no complaints. She has hypertension, for which she takes a thiazide diuretic, but no other medical problems. Her past gynecologic history is significant for normal annual Pap tests for many years, her last being 2 months ago. A recent mammogram was negative. Heart, lung, breast, abdomen, and pelvic examination are unremarkable. Which of the following procedures or tests should most likely be performed on this patient?

A 53-year-old woman with a history of a vagotomy and antrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction for peptic ulcer disease presents with recurrent abdominal pain. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) demonstrates that ulcer and serum gastrin levels are greater than 1000 pg/mL on three separate determinations (normal is 40-150). Which of the following is the best test for confirming a diagnosis of gastrinoma?

A 54-year-old African American man, with a history of smoking and drinking, describes progressive dysphagia that began 3 months ago. He first noticed difficulty swallowing meat; it then progressed to other solid foods, then to soft foods, and now to liquids as well. He locates the place where the food "sticks" at the lower end of the sternum. He has lost 30 pounds. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step in diagnosis?

A 54-year-old male comes to the office for follow-up care of his foot ulcer. He has no complaints regarding the ulcer, but he has recently become polyuric and polydipsic. Fasting blood work reveals elevated glucose levels. He is prescribed oral hypoglycemics, and counseled on self-monitoring at home. On his next follow-up visit, the patient proudly states that he has been "very compliant" with his medications, and that his glucose levels are "always well-controlled." Which of the following is the best way to determine whether this patient is telling the truth?

A 54-year-old man presents to the emergency room with acute pain, swelling and redness of his right knee. He had one episode of gouty arthritis a year ago that resolved quickly with indomethacin. He also has type 2 diabetes, hypertension and chronic renal disease. He does not use any illicit drugs. His temperature is 38.3°C (100.9°F), blood pressure is 110/65 mmHg, and pulse is 110/min. Examination reveals a tender, erythematous effusion of the right knee with decreased range of motion. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 54-year-old man sees you because of a growth on his lower lip. He smokes tobacco, has a fair complexion, and works outdoors. The biopsy report confirms a carcinoma. Which of the following is the most common diagnosis for tumors involving the lips?

A 54-year-old obese man gives a history of burning retrosternal pain and heartburn that is brought about by bending over, wearing a tight belt, or lying flat in bed at night. He gets symptomatic relief from over-the-counter antiacids or H2 blockers, but has never been formally studied or treated. The problem has been present for many years and seems to be progressing. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 54-year-old patient walks into a blood donation camp at a community hospital. His blood report shows an ELISA positive for HIV and HBsAg. He is notified of this finding, and a subsequent western blot test is also positive for HIV. Considering this new diagnosis of HIV, which of the following is indicated in this patient?

A 55-year-old G3P3 with a history of fibroids presents to you complaining of irregular vaginal bleeding. Until last month, she had not had a period in over 9 months. She thought she was in menopause, but because she started bleeding again last month she is not sure. Over the past month she has had irregular, spotty vaginal bleeding. The last time she bled was 1 week ago. She also complains of frequent hot flushes and emotional lability. She does not have any medical problems and is not taking any medications. She is a nonsmoker and denies any alcohol or drug use. Her gynecologic history is significant for cryotherapy of the cervix 10 years ago for moderate dysplasia. She has had three cesarean sections and a tubal ligation. On physical examination, her uterus is 12 weeks in size and irregularly shaped. Her ovaries are not palpable. A urine pregnancy test is negative. Which of the following is the most reasonable next step in the evaluation of this patient?

A 55-year-old male presents with face and arm swelling that he says is worst when he wakes in the morning. He also notes a 10-pound unintentional weight loss over the past three months, plus new-onset exertional dyspnea. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, for which he takes hydrochlorothiazide. He has smoked cigarettes for the past 40 years and drinks alcohol occasionally. On physical examination, he is afebrile and his vital signs are within normal limits. His face is plethoric and darkappearing. The veins on the anterior chest wall appear engorged. His abdomen is soft, non-tender, and nondistended, and there is no organomegaly. The lower extremities are non-edematous. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 55-year-old man from China is known to have chronic liver disease, secondary to hepatitis B infection. He has recently felt unwell, and his hemoglobin level has increased from 130 g/L, 1 year ago, to 195 g/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test?

A 55-year-old man presents to his physician’s office with increasing dyspnea on exertion. He denies chest pain, diaphoresis, nausea, or vomiting. He has been involved in eight motor vehicle accidents in the past 3 years. Past medical history is significant for hypertension, for which he takes a diuretic. His temperature is 37.2°C (99.0°F), blood pressure is 121/82 mm Hg, pulse is 85/min, respiratory rate is 14/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. Physical examination is significant for a body mass index of 35 kg/m2, a diffuse and laterally displaced point of maximal intensity, and an S3 gallop. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosing his most likely underlying condition?

A 55-year-old man presents to the emergency department at 5 a.m. Complaining of vomiting blood. After binge drinking last night, the patient began to vomit repeatedly. After a number of episodes, the patient noted blood in the vomitus, followed by a melanotic stool 5 hours later. His past history is pertinent for ethanol abuse and a 40 pack-year smoking history. Vital signs reveal a BP of 100/60 mmHg, pulse rate of 95/min, respiratory rate of 12/min, and temperature of 97°F. Examination reveals a thin man with normal chest, cardiac, and abdominal findings. Rectal examination reveals heme-positive stool. Laboratory data show normal electrolytes and a hematocrit of 30. A chest x-ray is unremarkable. Volume resuscitation, gastric lavage, and NG tube decompression are initiated. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnostic test?

A 55-year-old man presents to the physician’s office complaining of upper abdominal pain of 2 months’ duration. The pain is described as gnawing, localized to the upper midline, and associated with nausea. The pain is exacerbated by food, and there is an associated 20-lb weight loss over 2 months. His past history is pertinent for a 30 pack-year smoking history, occasional alcohol intake, and a prior history of a benign gastric ulcer 5 years ago. Physical examination reveals normal vital signs, mild epigastric pain with deep palpation, and mildly hemepositive stool. An evaluation for recurrence of a gastric ulcer is recommended. Which of the following tests is the most reliable method for diagnosing a gastric ulcer?

A 55-year-old man presents to your office with a six-month history of non-productive cough, especially at night. He denies postnasal drip, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or wheezing. His only other complaint is water brash. His past medical history is insignificant, and he is not taking any medications. He does not smoke or consume alcohol. Physical examination is insignificant. Chest x-ray and pulmonary function testing are normal. Esophagoscopy is also normal. What is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A 55-year-old postmenopausal female presents to her gynecologist for a routine examination. She denies any use of hormone replacement therapy and does not report any menopausal symptoms. She denies the occurrence of any abnormal vaginal bleeding. She has no history of any abnormal Pap smears and has been married for 30 years to the same partner. She is currently sexually active with her husband on a regular basis. Two weeks after her examination, her Pap smear comes back as atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS). Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 55-year-old white man with a 20-year history of gastroesophageal reflux visits the clinic for worsening reflux symptoms over the past 18 months. His last visit was 7 years ago and he claims to be otherwise in good health. He has been compliant with his antireflux medications, including an H2-blocker and a proton pump inhibitor. Which of the following is the best next step in management?

A 55-year-old woman comes to her primary care physician with complaints of pain, itching and red streaks in her left arm. She feels that her arm is "simply not the same". She had a similar episode in her chest almost 2 weeks ago, but it went away on its own. She has no other complaints, except for heartburn and some upper abdominal pain that has been there for a few months. She takes antacids for it, but has never got over it completely. She thinks that she has lost some weight but she feels happy about it, as she always wanted to lose weight. Her vitals are stable and there is mild epigastric tenderness. She has tender, erythematous, cord like veins palpable over left arm and some over the chest. She smokes 1-2pack/day for 15years and drinks alcohol, only on parties. What is the next best step in this patient?

A 55-year-old woman comes with complaints of episodes of night sweats and fever, for the last 6 weeks. She denies any cough or other respiratory complaints. She has lost 201b (9kg) and does not feel like eating anything. She denies smoking or alcohol use. Her brother was recently diagnosed with polycythemia vera. Physical examination reveals pallor and splenomegaly. Chest-X ray is within normal limits. Blood work is ordered and results are: WBC 66,100/cmm, Hemoglobin 8.70, Hematocrit 30%, Platelets 610,000/cmm. The leukocyte distribution on differential smear was: Promyelocyte 1%, Myelocyte 8%, Metamyelocyte 15%, Bands 35%, Segmented Neutrophils 25%, Lymphocytes 14%, Monocytes 2%. Further tests are ordered. Which one of the following is expected in this patient?

A 55-year-old woman presents with a 6-month history of weight loss, abdominal cramps, and intermittent non-bloody diarrhea. On examination, her abdomen is mildly distended and there is a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant. Stool cultures yield normal fecal flora. CT scan with oral contrast demonstrates an inflammatory mass in the right lower quadrant, with thickening of the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve. Which of the following is the best diagnostic test to confirm the diagnosis?

A 56-year-old diabetic male is brought to the emergency department due to nausea and vomiting. While you are examining the patient, a nurse asks if determination of the patient's acid-base status will help ascertain the etiology and subsequent management of the patient's primary problem. Which of the following pairs of laboratory values will help get the best picture of the patient's acid-base status?

A 56-year-old female comes to the office and complains of general malaise and headaches. Her other symptoms are episodic palpitations, throbbing headaches and diaphoresis. She feels "very anxious all the time." Her past medical history is unremarkable. Her deceased sister had very high blood pressure. Her blood pressure is 230/110 mmHg and pulse is 110/min. Initial laboratory studies reveal: WBC 7,000/cmm, Hb 11.2 g/L, Platelets 325,000/cmm, Calcium 11.9 mg/dl. What is the best next step in the evaluation of this patient?

A 56-year-old male is hospitalized following an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction that was treated with thrombolytic therapy 4 days ago. On day 4 of his hospitalization, he develops recurrent chest pain, similar in quality and severity to his previous pain. Sublingual nitroglycerin is administered but does not help. His blood pressure is now 140/90 mmHg and his heart rate is 82/min. S1 and S2 are normal, and there are no cardiac murmurs or rubs. Lungs are clear to auscultation. Which of the following laboratory tests would be most useful to send in this setting?

A 56-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to a one day history of abdominal pain and increasing distension. He has not passed flatus during this time. He has had nausea without vomiting. He has a history of cirrhosis secondary to chronic alcoholism. He is taking spironolactone and furosemide. His temperature is 38.0°C (101.3°F), blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg, pulse is 100/min, and respirations are 24/min. Physical examination shows a slightly confused man with a flapping tremor. Breathing is labored and lungs are clear to auscultation. Abdominal examination shows distension, tenderness to palpation with rebound, and no guarding; a fluctuating wave and shifting dullness are present. Abdominal auscultation shows splashing and markedly decreased bowel sounds. An x-ray film of the chest shows no abnormalities. An x-ray film of the abdomen shows gas in the small and large bowels without air-fluid levels. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 56-year-old man is involved in a severe motor vehicle accident. He develops ARF after admission to hospital. One of the possibilities for his ARF is posttraumatic renal vein thrombosis. Which of the following findings is most likely to suggest renal vein thrombosis?

A 56-year-old man presents to his urologist for continued evaluation of hypertension and hematuria. The patient has a 10-year history of hypertension and recent onset of painless hematuria for which he sought the attention of an urologist 3 months ago. On detailed questioning, the man states that he has been having severe headaches that are refractory to narcotic analgesics. Three days ago, a renal ultrasound was obtained that demonstrated bilaterally enlarged kidneys with multiple cysts. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 56-year-old man presents with progressive jaundice that he first noted 6 weeks ago. The patient has lost about 20 pounds over the past 2 months and he has persistent, nagging pain deep into his epigastrium and upper back. Except for the obvious jaundice and the signs of weight loss, physical examination is remarkable only for the presence of a vaguely palpable, nontender mass under the liver edge. His hemoglobin is 14 g/dL, and there is no occult blood in the stool. Total bilirubin is 22 mg/dL, with 16 mg/dL direct (conjugated) fraction. The transaminases are minimally elevated, whereas the alkaline phosphatase is about 8 times the upper limit of normal. A sonogram shows dilated intrahepatic ducts, dilated extrahepatic ducts, and a much distended, thinwalled gallbladder without stones. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 56-year-old previously healthy physician notices that his eyes are yellow and he has been losing weight. On physical examination the patient has jaundice and scleral icterus with a benign abdomen. Transcutaneous ultrasound of the abdomen demonstrates biliary ductal dilation without gallstones. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the workup of this patient?

A 56-year-old woman comes to the office for the evaluation of an ulcer on her left elbow. The ulcer is a persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders, and it sometimes crusts or bleeds. She recalls the time when she badly burned her left elbow while learning how to cook pasta at thirteen years of age. She works as a public relations officer in a large marketing company. She is a social smoker, and does not like drinking alcohol. Physical examination of the left elbow reveals a big scar with a firm, nontender, reddened, non-healing indolent, 3cm ulcer in the center. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 56-year-old woman presents to the physician’s office with complaints of a new left breast mass. She denies any pain, nipple discharge, or skin dimpling. She has a prior history of breast cysts 5 years ago, treated by aspiration at that time. Her last mammogram was at age 53. Past history is pertinent for a 30 pack-year smoking history, prior total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO) at age 54 for leiomyomas, and current use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Family history is negative for breast disease. Examination reveals a firm, welldefined, mobile, 1.5-cm nodule in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast without any regional lymphadenopathy. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 57 -year-old woman is admitted to the ICU after being involved in a highway motor vehicle accident. She was hypotensive at the scene and received 7 litters of fluids, which included crystalloids, blood, and fresh frozen plasma. She apparently had significant external blood loss from multiple fractures and skin loss. She undergoes surgery, after which she is transferred to the ICU and receives continuous IV fluids and vasopressors. Her laboratory studies 24 hours after the accident show the following: Hb 9.5 g/dl, WBC 15,000/cmm, Platelets 130,000/cmm, BUN 34 mg/dl, Serum Creatinine 2.2 mg/dl. Which of the following is the most likely microscopic finding on urinalysis?

A 57-year-old man comes to the office and complains of long-standing heartburn and chest pain. He describes the pain as burning in nature, and unrelated to eating. For the past week, his interest in things has decreased, and he has been more tired than usual. He has lost almost 40 lbs (18kg) in the last 6 months. He used to smoke 6-10 cigarettes daily, but he quit 4 years ago. He drinks alcohol occasionally. He takes ranitidine for his heartburn. His father died at the age of 67 from lung cancer. His vital signs are stable. Physical examination is unremarkable. The chest x-ray result is within normal limits. What is the best next step in the management of this patient?

A 57-year-old man comes to the physician because of 2 episodes of hematuria. He also complains of cough fatigue and fever for several days. He has smoked two packs of cigarettes daily for 25 years. He does not use alcohol or drugs. Vital signs are stable. Examination shows a left-sided varicocele which fails to empty when the patient is recumbent; examination otherwise shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show Hb of 16.2 g/dl and platelets of 480,000/cmm. Which of the following is the most appropriate diagnostic step in management?

A 57-year-old man is returned to the post-surgical recovery unit after an open cholecystectomy. The patient had an uneventful, but prolonged, operative course in a very cold operating room. His past medical history is unremarkable. The only attempt at patient warming was raising the ambient temperature of the room. His urine output since arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) has been 5 mL/hr. Which of the following is most likely to confirm the diagnosis?

A 58-year-old Caucasian male presents with polyuria and polydipsia for the past 4 months. He also reports easy bruising and difficulty in climbing stairs. He weighs 180 lbs (81.6kg) and is 5'7"(170cm) tall. His temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), pulse is 76/min, blood pressure is 155/100 mmHg, and respirations are 15/min. Physical examination reveals significant proximal muscle weakness of all the extremities. Skin examination reveals significant pigmentation on the exposed areas. Lab studies show: Sodium 145 meq/L, Potassium 2.9 meq/L, Bicarbonate 30 meq/L, Fasting blood glucose 240 mg/dL, Hemoglobin 13 g/dL, WBC 14,000/micro-L, Neutrophils 70%, Lymphocytes 23%, Monocytes 5%, Basophils 1%,Eosinophils 1%, 24hr urinary free cortisol 1100 microgram, Plasma ACTH 250 pg/mL (Normal 9-52 pg/mL). High dose dexamethasone suppression test did not decrease the 24 hr urinary cortisol excretion. Which of the following is consistent with this patient's findings?

A 58-year-old male is referred to your office after evaluation in the emergency room for abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with gastritis but a CT scan with contrast performed during the workup of his pain revealed a 2-cm adrenal mass. The patient has no history of malignancy and denies erectile dysfunction. Physical examination reveals a BP of 122/78 mmHg with no gynecomastia or evidence of Cushing syndrome. His serum potassium is normal. What is the next step in determining whether this patient’s adrenal mass should be resected?

A 58-year-old man is recently diagnosed with bowel cancer. He now complains of vague chest discomfort and shortness of breath. On examination, he is unwell, blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg, pulse 110/min, respirations 26/min, and oxygen saturation 88%. His lungs are normal on auscultation, the JVP is 8 cm, and P2 is loud. There is no edema or leg tenderness on palpation. A quantitative (ELISA) D-dimer assay is positive, ECG reveals sinus tachycardia, and cardiac enzymes are negative. The lung scan is read as high probability for PE. Which of the following tests is most likely to help in guiding emergent therapy?

A 58-year-old man is undergoing cardiac catheterization for evaluation of chest pain symptoms. He is worried about the risks, and as part of obtaining informed consent, you advise him about the risks and benefits of the procedure. Which of the following aspects of angiography is true?

A 58-year-old man with no prior cardiac history presents with retrosternal chest pain starting at rest and lasting 30 minutes. The pain radiates to the left arm and is associated with diaphoresis and dyspnea. His blood pressure is 150/90 mmHg, pulse 100/min, the heart sounds are normal, and the lungs are clear to auscultation. Which of the following is the next most appropriate investigation?

A 58-year-old postmenopausal female presents to your office on suggestion from a urologist. She has passed 3 kidney stones within the past 3 years. She is taking no medications. Her basic laboratory work shows the following: Na: 139 mEq/L, K: 4.2 mEq/L, HCO3: 25 mEq/L, Cl: 101 mEq/L, BUN: 19 mg/dL, Creatinine: 1.1 mg/dL, Ca: 11.2 mg/dL. A repeat calcium level is 11.4 mg/dL; PO4 is 2.3 mmol/L (normal above 2.5). Which of the following tests will confirm the most likely diagnosis?

A 58-year-old woman has had bilateral hip and knee pain for the past several months. The pain is worse with activity and better with rest. Recently she has noticed swelling of the right knee. She reports morning stiffness of about 10-15minutes duration. She denies fever or weight loss. Her past medical history is significant for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. She takes hydrochlorothiazide, lisinopril, omeprazole, insulin and aspirin. She does not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs. Her temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F), and blood pressure is 146/86 mmHg. Examination shows a mild effusion, tenderness, and decreased range of motion of the right knee. Synovial fluid analysis reveals the following: Cell count 1100/ml, Gram stain negative, Crystals absent. Plain films of her knee joint would most likely reveal?

A 58-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with right subcostal heaviness, intermittent pain, food intolerance, and 13.2 lbs-weight loss (6kg) over the past 2 months. Her pain has been worsening for the past 2 days; it was initially localized to the right upper quadrant, but has now shifted to her back. Her past medical history is remarkable for appendicitis, which was complicated by perforation and peritonitis 20 years ago. Abdominal examination shows epigastric tenderness. There is a palpable mass below the right costal margin. Murphy's sign is negative. Abdominal ultrasound shows an enlarged gallbladder and dilation of the hepatic ducts. Laboratory studies show: WBC 11,000/cmm, Total bilirubin 2.4 mg/dl, Direct bilirubin 1.6 mg/dl, Alkaline phosphatase 310 U/L, Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) 87 U/L, Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) 56 U/L, Amylase 140 U/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 59-year-old black man has a rock-hard, discrete, 1.5-cm nodule that is felt in his prostate during a routine physical examination. He is completely asymptomatic, and his prostatic specific antigen (PSA) done 3 months ago was normal for his age. His last rectal examination was performed a year earlier and was unremarkable. Which of the following will best establish the diagnosis?

A 59-year-old man is referred for evaluation because he has been fainting at his job, where he operates heavy machinery. He is pale and gaunt, but otherwise his physical examination is remarkable only for 4+ occult bloods in the stool. Laboratory studies show haemoglobin of 5gm/dL with microcytosis, as well as decreased levels of serum iron and increased iron binding capacity. Which of the following will most likely establish the diagnosis?

A 59-year-old man presents for his routine colonoscopy and during his visit he has numerous large adenomas removed from his colon. Which of the following is the most effective strategy for follow-up of this patient?

A 59-year-old man presents to the ED complaining of vomiting and sharp abdominal pain in the epigastric area that began abruptly this afternoon. He describes feeling nauseated and has no appetite. Laboratory results reveal WBC 18,000/μL, hematocrit 48%, platelets 110/μL, AST 275 U/L, ALT 125 U/L, alkaline phosphatase 75 U/L, amylase 1150 U/L, lipase 1450 IU, LDH 400 U/L, sodium 135 mEq/L, potassium 3.5 mEq/L, chloride 110 mEq/L, bicarbonate 20 mEq/L, BUN 20 mg/dL, creatinine 1.5 mg/dL, and glucose 250 mg/dL. Which of the following laboratory results correlate with the poorest prognosis?

A 6 month old male is brought in to the Emergency Room by his mother who states that when she picked him up from the baby-sitter he was not acting right. The baby-sitter stated that he was sleeping more and was fussy. On examination the baby is stuporous. His temperature is 37.8 C (99.9 F), pulse is 140/min, and respirations are 36/min. A 4 cm ecchymosis is noted on his right cheek. The remainder of the physical examination is unremarkable. The physician suspects possible physical abuse. He orders a CT scan of the head, skeletal survey, chemistry panel and complete blood count. Which of the following diagnostic tests should also be ordered?

A 6-month-old child was noted to be normal at birth, but over the ensuing months you have been somewhat concerned about his slowish weight gain and his mild delay in achieving developmental milestones. The family calls you urgently at 7:00 AM noting that their child seems unable to move the right side of his body. Which of the following conditions might explain this child’s condition?

A 6-month-old male infant is brought to the physician's office by his mother due to failure to thrive. According to the mother, the child always regurgitates shortly after feedings, and has even had a few episodes of blood-stained projectile vomiting. During the vomiting episodes, the child tilts his head to the left and arches his back. On examination, the child is afebrile. His abdomen is soft and non-tender to palpation. Laboratory evaluation shows hypochromic microcytic anemia. What is the most appropriate test to confirm the most likely diagnosis of this child?

A 6-week-old child is being evaluated for a fever of unknown etiology. As part of the laboratory evaluation, a urine specimen was obtained that grew E coli with a colony count of 2000/μL. These findings would be definite evidence of a urinary tract infection if which of the following is true about the sampled urine?

A 6-week-old infant is admitted to the hospital with jaundice. Her outpatient blood work demonstrated a total bilirubin of 12 mg/dL with a direct portion of 3.5 mg/dL. Which of the following disorders is most likely to be responsible?

A 6-year-old boy has had a fever for 8 days. He just finished a 5-day course of amoxicillin for otitis media. On examination, his temperature is 38.6 C (101.4 F). He has meningismus and palsy of the left sixth cranial nerve. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis reveals 200 white cells per mL with 80% lymphocytes and 20% polymorphonuclear leukocytes, glucose of 18 mg/dL, protein of 260 mg/dL, and a negative Gram stain. There is basilar enhancement without focal lesions on CT. Which of the following CSF tests will most likely identify the cause of meningitis?

A 6-year-old boy presents to his pediatrician for a routine physical examination. His mother reports no problems over the past year except that he seems to be shorter than the other boys in his class. His mother is 163 cm (5'4") tall and experienced menarche at age 12 years, and his father is 178 cm (5'10") tall and went through puberty at approximately age 14 years. On his growth curve, the boy’s height was at the 10th percentile at birth, at the sixth percentile by age 3 years, and at the third percentile now. His weight is currently at the 25th percentile. Which of the following is most important in this patient’s evaluation?

A 6-year-old boy with mental retardation has recently been diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome. His 9-year-old sister appears to be of normal intelligence but has symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What is the first test that is indicated in her work-up for ADHD?

A 6-year-old child is hospitalized for observation because of a short period of unconsciousness after a fall from a playground swing. He has developed unilateral pupillary dilatation, focal seizures, recurrence of depressed consciousness, and hemiplegia. Which of the following is the most appropriate management at this time?

A 6-year-old girl is brought to the emergency room because her urine is red. She has been healthy her whole life, and has recently returned from an outing with her grandmother to a local amusement park. Her urine dip for heme is positive, suggesting which of the following is a possibility?