Internal Medicine

Wernicke Encephalopathy Patient will be a chronic alcoholic Complaining of ataxia and confusion PE will show nystagmus Most commonly caused by thiamine (B1) deficiency Treatment is aggressive thiamine repletion Comments: replace thiamine BEFORE glucose Sample question: A 53-year-old woman with chronic alcohol use presents with confusion and blurred vision. Her vital signs are normal. Physical examination reveals a wide-based gait, inability to abduct her read more…

Achalasia Patient will complain of dysphagia to solids and liquids PE will show absent peristalsis in lower esophagus Barium swallow shows “bird beak” appearance Diagnosis is made by esophageal manometry increased LES pressure Sample question: A 60-year-old man comes to the clinic complaining of difficulty swallowing, heartburn, chest pain, and mild weight loss. He has difficulty swallowing solids and liquids and read more…

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Chlamydia Cervicitis

Cushing’s Syndrome Patient will be complaining of amenorrhea, central obesity, depressive symptoms, and easy bruising PE will show purple striae, “moon face” (facial adiposity), “buffalo hump” (increased adipose tissue in the neck and upper back), and hypertension Diagnosis is made by 24-hr urine cortisol and testing ACTH levels Most commonly caused by hypercortisolism from ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor Comments: If cause is pituitary tumor, then read more…

Hypercalcemia Patient will be complaining of bone pain (Bones), kidney stones (Stones), abdominal pain (Groans), lethargy, psychosis (Psychiatric overtones) Labs will show ↓ QT interval Most commonly caused by: Malignancy (most common inpatient cause) Primary hyperparathyroidism (most common outpatient cause) Treatment is IV fluids Sample question: A 67-year-old woman who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer presents read more…

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Patient with a history of nasal congestion, cough, and low-grade fever “Rapid fire,” repetitive coughing followed by an inspiratory “whoop” and post-tussive emesis Most commonly caused by Bordetella pertussis Treatment is a macrolide – azithromycin Sample question:  A 2-year-old boy who is new to your practice is brought to the clinic because of coughing. For the past two weeks, he has had rhinorrhea read more…

Acanthosis Nigricans Sample question: A 19-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider’s office for a rash on the back of her neck that has grown and gotten darker over the past year. The woman has a past medical history asthma. Her pulse is 66 beats/min, respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min, blood pressure is 132/87 mm read more…

Subdural Hematoma Patient will be elderly or alcoholic With a history of a fall or traumatic head injury Complaining of headache, mental status changes, seizures, or focal deficits Diagnosis is made by non-contrast CT, crescent-shaped hematoma Most commonly caused by rupture of the bridging veins Treatment is neurosurgical consultation Sample question: A 68-year-old man presents to the ED after a fall down 12 stairs. read more…

Ankylosing Spondylitis Sample question: A 51-year-old man presents with low back pain that has been worsening over the past several years. Radiographs of the spine demonstrate fusion of the sacroiliac joints and a “bamboo spine.” Blood tests reveal that he is human leukocyte antigen B27 positive. Which of the following findings on physical exam would be read more…

von Willebrand Disease Sample question: A 9-year-old child is being evaluated for frequent epistaxis and easy bruising tendencies. Bleeding time is prolonged, PT, PTT, and INR are within normal limits. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Hypothyroidism Patient will be complaining of generalized weakness, fatigue, facial swelling, constipation, cold intolerance, and weight gain PE will show periorbital edema, dry skin, and coarse brittle hair Labs will show high TSH and low free T4, antithyroid peroxidase, and antithyroglobulin autoantibodies Most commonly caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis Treatment is levothyroxine Comments: Takes about 6 weeks to see treatment effects. Monitor TSH Hashimoto’s: Risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphoma Sample Question: A 55-year-old woman presents to your office with complaints of fatigue, read more…

Hyphema A 13-year-old boy is brought to the urgent care clinic by his mother. He was struck in the eye with a baseball while playing with classmates during recess. He complains of blurred vision and excruciating eye pain. Examination of the eye reveals decreased visual acuity, miosis, photophobia, and grossly visible blood in the anterior chamber.

Meniere Disease Example: A patient complains of a 6-month history of tinnitus and vertigo that occurs with nausea, vomiting and a sensation of “ears full of water.” These symptoms occur intermittently in attacks at a frequency of once or twice a week. He denies head trauma, headache, photophobia or focal neurologic deficits. Otoscopic examination reveals no read more…

Example: A 28-year-old woman presents with complaints of double vision and fatigue. These symptoms are generally better in the morning and progress throughout the day. She works long hours and says toward the end of her shift she is extremely fatigued and has difficulty completing her tasks. Which of the following is the most likely etiology?

Multiple Myeloma Patient will be elderly Complaining of back pain PE will show CRAB: hyperCalcemia, Renal insufficiency, Anemia, lytic Bone lesions/Back pain Labs will show monoclonal antibody spike X-ray will show lytic lesions Peripheral blood smear: Rouleaux formations Serum protein electrophoresis: M spike Protein electrophoresis urine analysis: Bence-Jones proteins Most commonly caused by single clone plasma cell read more…

Molluscum Contagiosum Patient will be a school-age child Presenting with “warts” PE will show multiple waxy, dome-shaped papules with umbilicated appearance Most commonly caused by poxvirus Treatment is self-limiting

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Absence Seizures Patient will be a 5–10 years old Sudden mental status alteration without motor activity or a blank stare EEG during an event would show symmetric 3 Hz spike and wave activity Treatment is ethosuximide Comments: There will be no aura or postictal state

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