Granulomatous inflammation — MCQs

A 34-year-old female medical professional who works for a non-governmental organization visits her primary care provider for a routine health check-up. She made a recent trip to Sub-Saharan Africa where she participated in a humanitarian medical project. Her medical history and physical examination are unremarkable. A chest radiograph and a tuberculin skin test (PPD) are ordered. The chest radiograph is performed at the side and the PPD reaction measures 12 mm after 72 hours. Which of the following mechanisms is involved in the skin test reaction?

A 3-year-old recent immigrant is diagnosed with primary tuberculosis. Her body produces T cells that do not have IL-12 receptors on their surface, and she is noted to have impaired development of Th1 T-helper cells. Which of the following cytokines would benefit this patient?

A 45-year-old immigrant presents with unintentional weight loss, sleep hyperhidrosis, and a persistent cough. He says these symptoms have been present for quite some time. Upon imaging, many granulomas in the upper lobes are present. It is noted that these apical granulomas have centers of necrosis that appear cheese-like in appearance. Encircling the area of necrosis are large cells with cytoplasms pale in color. Of the following surface markers, which one is most closely associated with these cells?

A 68-year-old man presents to the office with progressive shortness of breath and cough. A chest X-ray shows prominent hilar lymph nodes and scattered nodular infiltrates. Biopsy of the latter reveals noncaseating granulomas. This patient most likely has a history of exposure to which of the following?

A 30-year-old African American woman comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of increasing shortness of breath, cough, and intermittent fever. She works in a local factory that manufactures components for airplanes. She drinks 2–3 glasses of wine daily and has smoked half a pack of cigarettes daily for the past 5 years. Physical examination shows a purple rash on her cheeks and nose. An x-ray of the chest shows bilateral hilar adenopathy and a calcified nodule in the left lower lobe. A bronchoalveolar lavage shows a CD4:CD8 T-lymphocyte ratio of 10:1 (N=2:1). A biopsy of the nodule shows a noncaseating granuloma. Which of the following is the strongest predisposing factor for the development of this patient's condition?

A 55-year-old homeless man is presented to the emergency department by a group of volunteers after they found him coughing up blood during 1 of the beneficiary dinners they offer every week. His medical history is unknown as he recently immigrated from Bangladesh. He says that he has been coughing constantly for the past 3 months with occasional blood in his sputum. He also sweats a lot at nights and for the past 2 days, he has been thirsty with increased frequency of urination and feeling hungrier than usual. The respiratory rate is 30/min and the temperature is 38.6°C (101.5°F). He looks emaciated and has a fruity smell to his breath. The breath sounds are reduced over the apex of the right lung. The remainder of the physical exam is unremarkable. Biochemical tests are ordered, including a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (8.5%) and chest radiography reveals cavitations in the apical region of the right lung. Which of the following immune cells is most critical in orchestrating the formation and maintenance of the granulomatous structure that led to these cavitations?

A 34-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 6-week history of fever and productive cough with blood-tinged sputum. She has also had a 4-kg (8.8-lb) weight loss during the same time period. Examination shows enlarged cervical lymph nodes. An x-ray of the chest shows a 2.5-cm pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe. A biopsy specimen of the lung nodule shows caseating granulomas with surrounding multinucleated giant cells. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's pulmonary nodule?

A 37-year-old man presents to his primary care physician because he has had constipation for the last several weeks. He has also been feeling lethargic and complains that this winter has been particularly cold. He also complains that he has been gaining weight despite no change in his normal activities. He reveals that two months prior to presentation he had what felt like the flu for which he took Tylenol and did not seek medical attention. Several days after this he developed anterior neck pain. Which of the following findings would most likely be seen on biopsy of this patient's abnormality?

A 32-year-old man who recently emigrated from Somalia comes to the physician because of a 4-week history of fever, cough, and chest pain. He has had a 5-kg (11-lb) weight loss over the last 3 months despite no changes in appetite. His temperature is 38.1°C (100.6°F). Physical examination shows enlarged cervical lymph nodes. The lungs are clear to auscultation. The results of an interferon-γ release assay are positive. An x-ray of the chest shows bilateral mediastinal lymphadenopathy. A transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy of a mediastinal lymph node is performed; a photomicrograph of the specimen is shown. The structure indicated by the arrow is most likely comprised of which of the following types of cells?

Two days after being admitted for acute myocardial infarction, a 61-year-old man has sharp, substernal chest pain that worsens with inspiration and improves when leaning forward. Cardiac examination shows a scratchy sound best heard over the left sternal border. Histopathological examination of the infarcted myocardial tissue is most likely to show which of the following findings?