Imaging study selection principles — MCQs

A 36-year-old male is taken to the emergency room after jumping from a building. Bilateral fractures to the femur were stabilized at the scene by emergency medical technicians. The patient is lucid upon questioning and his vitals are stable. Pain only at his hips was elicited. Cervical exam was not performed. What is the best imaging study for this patient?

A 45-year-old woman, suspected of having colon cancer, is advised to undergo a contrast-CT scan of the abdomen. She has no comorbidities and no significant past medical history. There is also no history of drug allergy. However, she reports that she is allergic to certain kinds of seafood. After tests confirm normal renal function, she is taken to the CT scan room where radiocontrast dye is injected intravenously and a CT scan of her abdomen is conducted. While being transferred to her ward, she develops generalized itching and urticarial rashes, with facial angioedema. She becomes dyspneic. Her pulse is 110/min, the blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg, and the respirations are 30/min. Her upper and lower extremities are pink and warm. What is the most appropriate management of this patient?

A 37-year-old woman presents to the Emergency Department after 8 hours of left sided flank pain that radiates to her groin and pelvic pain while urinating. Her medical history is relevant for multiple episodes of urinary tract infections, some requiring hospitalization, and intravenous antibiotics. In the hospital, her blood pressure is 125/83 mm Hg, pulse of 88/min, a respiratory rate of 28/min, and a body temperature of 36.5°C (97.7°F). On physical examination, she has left costovertebral tenderness and lower abdominal pain. Laboratory studies include a negative pregnancy test, mild azotemia, and a urinary dipstick that is positive for blood. Which of the following initial tests would be most useful in the diagnosis of this case?

During the course of investigation of a suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm in a 57-year-old woman, a solid 6 × 5 cm mass is detected in the right kidney. The abdominal aorta reveals no abnormalities. The patient is feeling well and has no history of any serious illness or medication usage. She is a 25-pack-year smoker. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals no abnormalities. Biopsy of the mass shows renal cell carcinoma. Contrast-enhanced CT scan indicates no abnormalities involving contralateral kidney, lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bone, or brain. Which of the following treatment options is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 69-year-old woman presents with pain in her hip and groin. She states that the pain is present in the morning, and by the end of the day it is nearly unbearable. Her past medical history is notable for a treated episode of acute renal failure, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension. Her current medications include losartan, metformin, insulin, and ibuprofen. The patient recently started taking high doses of vitamin D as she believes that it could help her symptoms. She also states that she recently fell off the treadmill while exercising at the gym. On physical exam you note an obese woman. There is pain, decreased range of motion, and crepitus on physical exam of her right hip. The patient points to the areas that cause her pain stating that it is mostly over the groin. The patient's skin turgor reveals tenting. Radiography is ordered. Which of the following is most likely to be found on radiography?

A 67-year-old man presents to his primary care provider with bloody urine. He first noticed the blood 1 week ago. He otherwise feels healthy. His past medical history is significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus for 18 years, for which he takes insulin injections. He has smoked 30–40 cigarettes per day for the past 29 years and drinks alcohol socially. Today his vital signs include: temperature 36.6°C (97.8°F), blood pressure 135/82 mm Hg, and heart rate 105/min. There are no findings on physical examination. Urinalysis shows 15–20 red cells/high power field. Which of the following is the next best test to evaluate this patient’s condition?

A 6-month-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his mother, who informs the doctor that her alcoholic husband hit the boy hard on his back. The blow was followed by excessive crying for several minutes and the development of redness in the area. On physical examination, the boy is dehydrated, dirty, and irritable and when the vital signs are checked, they reveal tachycardia. He cries immediately upon the physician touching the area around his left scapula. The doctor strongly suspects a fracture of the 6th, 7th, or 8th retroscapular posterior ribs. Evaluation of his skeletal survey is normal. The clinician is concerned about child abuse in this case. Which of the following is the most preferred imaging technique as the next step in the diagnostic evaluation of the infant?

A 42-year-old man presents to his physician with dark urine and intermittent flank pain. He has no significant past medical history and generally is healthy. His temperature is 97.5°F (36.4°C), blood pressure is 182/112 mmHg, pulse is 85/min, respirations are 15/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical examination is significant for bilateral palpable flank masses and discomfort to percussion of the costovertebral angle. Urinalysis is positive for red blood cells without any bacteria or nitrites. Which of the following diagnostic modalities should be used to screen members of this patient's family to assess if they are affected by the same condition?

A 37-year-old man is presented to the emergency department by paramedics after being involved in a serious 3-car collision on an interstate highway while he was driving his motorcycle. On physical examination, he is responsive only to painful stimuli and his pupils are not reactive to light. His upper extremities are involuntarily flexed with hands clenched into fists. The vital signs include temperature 36.1°C (97.0°F), blood pressure 80/60 mm Hg, and pulse 102/min. A non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of the head shows a massive intracerebral hemorrhage with a midline shift. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis shows partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) of 68 mm Hg, and the patient is put on mechanical ventilation. His condition continues to decline while in the emergency department and it is suspected that this patient is brain dead. Which of the following results can be used to confirm brain death and legally remove this patient from the ventilator?