Pulmonology — MCQs

A 57-year-old man presents to the clinic with shortness of breath on exertion, which started several months after a cold and has been worsening. He reports no cough or sputum production, a 40-pack-per-year history of smoking, and a past history of well-controlled hypertension on amlodipine. On physical examination, he has bilateral wheezes on expiration and increased resonance to percussion of the chest. Pulmonary function tests confirm the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Which of the following best describes the condition of COPD?

Q856

What occurs in the case of pneumothorax?

Q857

What is a likely diagnosis for a patient with persistent fever after treatment for pneumonia?

Q858

Pulmonary embolism is most commonly produced by which of the following?

Q859

What is the most common cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

Q860

In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which type of cell is primarily damaged?

Pulmonology Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs

Question 851: A patient suffering from purulent sputum, cough, and clubbing of fingers is likely suffering from which of the following conditions?

A. Lung abscess
B. Bronchiectasis (Correct Answer)
C. Chronic bronchitis
D. Acute respiratory infection

Explanation: ***Bronchiectasis*** - **Purulent sputum**, **chronic cough**, and **clubbing** are classic signs of bronchiectasis, a condition characterized by permanent dilation of bronchi and bronchioles [1]. - The dilated airways lead to impaired mucociliary clearance, resulting in recurrent infections and chronic inflammation, causing the characteristic symptoms [2]. *Lung abscess* - While it can cause **purulent sputum** and **cough**, **clubbing** is less commonly associated with acute lung abscess unless it's a chronic, long-standing process [1]. - Lung abscess is typically a localized infection with **cavitation** and often presents with fever and pleuritic chest pain. *Chronic bronchitis* - This condition presents with a **chronic cough** and **sputum production** but does not typically cause **clubbing of the fingers**. - It is defined by cough and sputum production for at least three months in two consecutive years, without another underlying cause. *Acute respiratory infection* - An acute respiratory infection can certainly cause **cough** and **purulent sputum**, but it is generally a self-limiting condition and does not lead to **clubbing of the fingers**. - Clubbing is a sign of long-standing hypoxemia or chronic disease.

Question 852: Acute lung injury is caused by all of the following except:

A. Aspiration
B. Toxic gas inhalation
C. Lung contusion.
D. Pulmonary function testing (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ***Pulmonary function testing*** - **Pulmonary function testing (PFT)** is a diagnostic tool used to assess lung capacity and function, not a cause of lung injury. - While it can be stressful for some patients, it does not directly lead to **acute lung injury** or **ARDS**. *Aspiration* - **Aspiration** of gastric contents or other foreign material into the lungs can cause direct chemical irritation and inflammation, leading to **acute lung injury**. - This is a common cause of **aspiration pneumonitis** and can progress to **ARDS**. *Toxic gas inhalation* - Inhalation of **toxic gases** (e.g., chlorine, phosgene, smoke) directly damages the respiratory epithelium, causing severe inflammation and increased capillary permeability. - This direct insult can rapidly lead to **acute lung injury** and **ARDS** [1]. *Lung contusion* - **Lung contusion** is a bruise of the lung tissue, typically resulting from blunt chest trauma. - The trauma causes hemorrhage and edema within the lung parenchyma, leading to impaired gas exchange and can progress to **acute lung injury**.

Question 853: All the following are true regarding intrinsic asthma, except which of the following?

A. IgE levels are typically normal in intrinsic asthma.
B. Patients with intrinsic asthma may be allergic to aspirin.
C. Dander is the most common allergen in intrinsic asthma. (Correct Answer)
D. Emphysema is commonly associated with intrinsic asthma.

Explanation: ***Dander is the commonest allergen*** - This statement is false; intrinsic asthma does not typically involve environmental allergens like dander, which are more relevant to extrinsic asthma [1]. - **Intrinsic asthma** is often triggered by non-allergic factors, such as exercise, cold air, or infections, rather than common allergens [1]. *Emphysema is common* - Emphysema is primarily associated with **extrinsic factors**, such as smoking and long-term exposure to pollutants rather than intrinsic asthma. - **Intrinsic asthma** predominantly deals with bronchial hyperreactivity rather than structural lung changes like those seen in emphysema. *Patients with intrinsic asthma may be allergic to aspirin* - While aspirin sensitivity can indeed affect asthmatic individuals, it is not a hallmark of intrinsic asthma but more commonly associated with **aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)** [1]. - Intrinsic asthma does not specifically imply an underlying allergy or specific medications triggering symptoms. *IgE levels are normal* - In intrinsic asthma, IgE levels are typically expected to be **normal**, as it is not primarily driven by allergic mechanisms [1]. - This denotes that unlike in extrinsic asthma, where high IgE may indicate allergen sensitivity, intrinsic asthma has a different pathophysiology.

Question 854: In bronchiectasis, all of the following are seen except:

A. Recurring bouts of cough
B. Haemoptysis
C. Wheezing (Correct Answer)
D. Clubbing

Explanation: ***Wheezing*** - **Wheezing** is typically associated with conditions that cause airway narrowing, such as **asthma** or **COPD**. - While some patients with bronchiectasis might have concomitant airway obstruction, wheezing is **not a universal or characteristic symptom** of bronchiectasis itself, which primarily involves permanent dilation and destruction of the bronchi. *Clubbing* - **Clubbing** (thickening of the nail beds) is a common sign in patients with **chronic suppurative lung diseases** like bronchiectasis, indicating chronic hypoxia and inflammation [2]. - It results from the **persistent inflammation** and increased vascularity in the distal digits. *Haemoptysis* - **Haemoptysis**, or coughing up blood, is a frequent and sometimes severe complication of bronchiectasis due to the **fragile, hypervascular bronchial walls** that easily bleed [1], [2]. - The dilated and inflamed bronchi are highly prone to **vascular damage**, leading to varying degrees of bleeding. *Recurring bouts of cough* - **Chronic cough** productive of large amounts of purulent sputum is the **hallmark symptom** of bronchiectasis, resulting from chronic infection and inflammation [1]. - The impaired mucociliary clearance leads to **stagnant mucus** and recurrent infections, triggering persistent coughing.

Question 855: A 57-year-old man presents to the clinic with shortness of breath on exertion, which started several months after a cold and has been worsening. He reports no cough or sputum production, a 40-pack-per-year history of smoking, and a past history of well-controlled hypertension on amlodipine. On physical examination, he has bilateral wheezes on expiration and increased resonance to percussion of the chest. Pulmonary function tests confirm the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Which of the following best describes the condition of COPD?

A. It is a condition that can include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
B. It is airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. (Correct Answer)
C. It is primarily due to chronic inflammation of the airways.
D. It is characterized by reversible airway obstruction.

Explanation: ***It is airflow limitation that is not fully reversible.*** - **COPD** is fundamentally defined by **airflow limitation** that is not fully reversible with bronchodilators, differentiating it from conditions like asthma [1]. - This **irreversible airflow obstruction** is typically progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases [1]. *It is a condition that can include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.* - While **chronic bronchitis** and **emphysema** are major components and phenotypes of COPD, this statement describes its constituent parts rather than its overarching definition [2]. - COPD is a broader term encompassing these conditions when they lead to characteristic **non-reversible airflow limitation**. *It is primarily due to chronic inflammation of the airways.* - **Chronic inflammation** is a key pathological feature of COPD, but it is not the defining characteristic or the most accurate description of the condition itself. - This inflammation leads to the structural changes and **airflow limitation** that define COPD [1]. *It is characterized by reversible airway obstruction.* - **Reversible airway obstruction** is the hallmark of diseases like **asthma**, where airway narrowing can be significantly improved with medication [1]. - In contrast, COPD is defined by **irreversible** or only partially reversible airflow limitation.

Question 856: What occurs in the case of pneumothorax?

A. Cavity in the lung
B. Pus in the pleural space
C. Blood in the pleural space
D. Air in the pleural space (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ***Air in the pleural space*** - **Pneumothorax** is defined by the presence of **air in the pleural space**, which is the potential space between the parietal and visceral pleura [1]. - This accumulation of air causes a partial or complete **collapse of the lung** on the affected side due to the loss of negative intrapleural pressure [1]. *Cavity in the lung* - A **cavity in the lung** typically refers to a localized area of necrosis and excavation within the lung parenchyma, often seen in conditions like tuberculosis, fungal infections, or lung abscess. - While it can lead to pneumothorax if it ruptures into the pleural space, a lung cavity itself is not synonymous with pneumothorax. *Pus in the pleural space* - **Pus in the pleural space** is known as **empyema**, a type of pleural effusion characterized by purulent fluid accumulation due to infection [2]. - This is a distinct condition from pneumothorax, which involves air, not pus, in the pleural space. *Blood in the pleural space* - **Blood in the pleural space** is termed **hemothorax**, usually resulting from trauma, surgery, or underlying medical conditions that cause bleeding into the pleural cavity. - Hemothorax involves fluid (blood) accumulation, whereas pneumothorax specifically involves air.

Question 857: What is a likely diagnosis for a patient with persistent fever after treatment for pneumonia?

A. Fungal pneumonia
B. Bronchogenic carcinoma
C. Lung abscess
D. Empyema (pleural effusion with infection) (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ***Empyema (pleural effusion with infection)*** - **Empyema** is a collection of pus in the pleural space, often a complication of pneumonia, and can cause **persistent fever** despite appropriate antibiotic treatment for the initial pneumonia [1]. - The continued presence of infection in the pleural space, which is not directly targeted by standard pneumonia treatment, can lead to prolonged inflammatory symptoms [1]. *Fungal pneumonia* - While fungal pneumonia can cause persistent fever, it typically does not develop *after* treatment for bacterial pneumonia unless the patient is immunocompromised or has specific environmental exposures . - It would usually be considered if initial bacterial treatment failed or if there were specific risk factors for fungal infection. *Bronchogenic carcinoma* - This is a long-term, chronic condition that can cause fever, but it is unlikely to present as a *persistent fever immediately after treatment* for an acute pneumonia episode. - Fever associated with malignancy often has a different pattern and is usually accompanied by other systemic symptoms like weight loss. *Lung abscess* - A **lung abscess** is a pus-filled cavity within the lung parenchyma, which can cause persistent fever. - However, fever from a lung abscess often responds partially to antibiotics, and the diagnosis is usually made earlier during the initial pneumonia course or when treatment fails to resolve the infiltrates.

Question 858: Pulmonary embolism is most commonly produced by which of the following?

A. Trauma
B. Atherosclerosis
C. No significant cause
D. Thrombosis of lower limb veins (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ***Thrombosis of lower limb veins*** - The vast majority of pulmonary emboli originate from **deep vein thromboses (DVTs)** in the lower extremities, particularly the proximal veins (popliteal, femoral, iliac) [1]. - These clots can detach and travel through the right side of the heart to lodge in the **pulmonary arterial system** [1]. - Many patients with suspected PE will have identifiable proximal thrombus in the leg veins [2]. *Trauma* - While severe trauma can increase the risk of DVT due to immobility and venous stasis, **trauma itself is not the direct cause** of the pulmonary embolism. - Trauma is a risk factor for DVT formation, which then leads to PE, rather than directly producing the embolism. *Atherosclerosis* - Atherosclerosis is a disease of arteries involving plaque formation and can lead to conditions like **myocardial infarction** or **stroke**, but it is not a direct source of pulmonary emboli. - While severe atherosclerosis can be a risk factor for DVT in some cases due to systemic inflammation or reduced mobility, it is not the primary mechanism. *No significant cause* - While up to 50% of deep vein thromboses can be asymptomatic, thereby making their "cause" seem insignificant to the patient, PE always has an underlying cause, most commonly **venous thrombosis** [1]. - PE is a serious medical condition with identifiable risk factors and origins, even if the patient is unaware of the initial thrombotic event.

Question 859: What is the most common cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

A. Smoking (Correct Answer)
B. Exposure to air pollutants
C. Genetic predisposition
D. Occupational exposure

Explanation: ***Smoking*** - **Smoking** is by far the leading cause of COPD, accounting for approximately 80-90% of all cases [1]. - inhaling **toxic chemicals** and irritants in tobacco smoke causes chronic inflammation and damage to the airways and alveoli [1]. *Exposure to air pollutants* - Chronic exposure to indoor and outdoor **air pollutants**, such as biomass fuel smoke or industrial emissions, can contribute to COPD. - However, their impact is generally **less significant** than that of active smoking in the general population [1]. *Genetic predisposition* - A rare genetic condition, **alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency**, can lead to early-onset COPD, especially in non-smokers. - While other **genetic factors** may influence susceptibility, they do not represent the most common cause [1]. *Occupational exposure* - Prolonged exposure to certain **occupational dusts** and chemicals, such as cadmium, silica, and cotton dust, can cause COPD. - This is a significant risk factor for specific populations but is **not the most common cause** overall.

Question 860: In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which type of cell is primarily damaged?

A. Type 2 pneumocytes
B. Type 1 pneumocytes (Correct Answer)
C. Alveolar macrophages
D. Bronchial epithelial cells

Explanation: ***Type 1 pneumocytes*** - These cells form an **extensive network of thin cells** that cover approximately 95% of the alveolar surface and are primarily responsible for **gas exchange** [4]. - Their thinness and large surface area make them particularly vulnerable to injury during the **initial inflammatory phase of ARDS**, leading to increased permeability and alveolar edema [1]. *Type 2 pneumocytes* - While important for producing **surfactant** and differentiating into Type 1 pneumocytes during repair, Type 2 cells are generally **more resistant to acute injury** than Type 1 cells [2]. - They play a role in the **repair phase** of ARDS, regenerating damaged alveolar epithelium [2]. *Alveolar macrophages* - These are **immune cells** that reside in the alveoli, primarily responsible for **phagocytosis** of foreign particles and initiating immune responses [3]. - While they are activated and contribute to the inflammation in ARDS, they are not the primary cells damaged in the early stages as the epithelial barrier cells are [1]. *Bronchial epithelial cells* - These cells line the airways (bronchi and bronchioles) and are involved in **mucociliary clearance** [3]. - While severe lung injury can extend to these areas, the hallmark of ARDS is damage primarily to the **alveolar-capillary membrane**, not the larger airways.

Practice by Chapter

Obstructive Airway Diseases (Asthma, COPD)

Practice Questions

Interstitial Lung Diseases

Practice Questions

Pulmonary Infections

Practice Questions

Pulmonary Vascular Diseases

Practice Questions

Pleural Diseases

Practice Questions

Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Practice Questions

Respiratory Failure

Practice Questions

Mediastinal Disorders

Practice Questions

Occupational Lung Diseases

Practice Questions

Pulmonary Function Testing

Practice Questions

Bronchiectasis and Cystic Fibrosis

Practice Questions

Lung Cancer Approach

Practice Questions

Want unlimited practice?

Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.

Start For Free