Systemic Pathology — MCQs

A 51-year-old man presents to his dermatologist because of severe stomatitis and superficial skin erosions over his trunk. His condition started 2 months ago and was unresponsive to oral antibiotics and antiherpetic medications. He has no history of a similar rash. His medical history is remarkable for type 2 diabetes mellitus and essential hypertension. The physical examination reveals numerous flaccid blisters and bullae which rupture easily. Nikolsky's sign is positive. Which of the following best represents the etiology of this patient’s condition?

A 7-month old boy, born to immigrant parents from Greece, presents to the hospital with pallor and abdominal distention. His parents note that they recently moved into an old apartment building and have been concerned about their son's exposure to chipped paint from the walls. On physical exam, the patient is found to have hepatosplenomegaly and frontal skull bossing. Hemoglobin electrophoresis reveals markedly increased HbF and HbA2 levels. What would be the most likely findings on a peripheral blood smear?

A 27-year-old woman with sickle cell disease and at 39-weeks' gestation is brought to the emergency department in active labor. She has had multiple episodes of acute chest syndrome and has required several transfusions in the past. She has a prolonged vaginal delivery complicated by postpartum bleeding, and she receives a transfusion of 1 unit of packed red blood cells. One hour later, the patient experiences acute flank pain. Her temperature is 38.7°C (101.6°F), pulse is 115/min, respirations are 24/min, and blood pressure is 95/55 mm Hg. Foley catheter shows dark brown urine. Further evaluation of this patient is most likely to show which of the following?

A 71-year-old man presents to his primary care physician because he is increasingly troubled by a tremor in his hands. He says that the tremor is worse when he is resting and gets better when he reaches for objects. His wife reports that he has been slowing in his movements and also has difficulty starting to walk. His steps have been short and unsteady even when he is able to initiate movement. Physical exam reveals rigidity in his muscles when tested for active range of motion. Histology in this patient would most likely reveal which of the following findings?

A 28-year-old man presents for severe abdominal pain and is diagnosed with appendicitis. He is taken for emergent appendectomy. During the procedure, the patient has massive and persistent bleeding requiring a blood transfusion. The preoperative laboratory studies showed a normal bleeding time, normal prothrombin time (PT), an INR of 1.0, and a normal platelet count. Postoperatively, when the patient is told about the complications during the surgery, he recalls that he forgot to mention that he has a family history of an unknown bleeding disorder. The postoperative laboratory tests reveal a prolonged partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

A previously healthy 40-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 3-day history of fever, headaches, and fatigue. She also reports a persistent tingling sensation in her right hand and numbness in her right arm that started this morning. Physical examination shows pallor, mild scleral icterus, and petechiae on her forearms and legs. On mental status examination, she appears confused and is only oriented to person. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 11.1 g/dL Platelet count 39,500/mm3 Bleeding time 9 minutes Prothrombin time 14 seconds Partial thromboplastin time 35 seconds Serum Creatinine 1.7 mg/dL Total bilirubin 2.1 mg/dL A peripheral blood smear shows fragmented erythrocytes. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's condition?

A 12-year-old boy presents to your office with facial swelling and dark urine. He has no other complaints other than a sore throat 3 weeks ago that resolved after 6 days. He is otherwise healthy, lives at home with his mother and 2 cats, has no recent history of travel, and no sick contacts. On physical examination his temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 130/85 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, respirations are 19/min, and pulse oximetry is 99% on room air. Cardiopulmonary and abdominal examinations are unremarkable. There is mild periorbital and pedal edema. Urinalysis shows 12-15 RBC/hpf, 2-5 WBC/hpf, and 30 mg/dL protein. Which additional finding would you expect to see on urinalysis?

A 61-year-old man with a history of stage IIIa lung adenocarcinoma that has been treated with wedge resection and chemotherapy presents to the primary care clinic. He is largely asymptomatic, but he demonstrates a persistent microcytic anemia despite iron supplementation. Colonoscopy performed 3 years earlier was unremarkable. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a child, and hypercholesterolemia. He currently smokes 1 pack of cigarettes per day, drinks a glass of pinot grigio per day, and currently denies any illicit drug use. His vital signs include: temperature, 36.7°C (98.0°F); blood pressure, 126/74 mm Hg; heart rate, 87/min; and respiratory rate, 17/min. On physical examination, his pulses are bounding, complexion is pale, but breath sounds remain clear. Oxygen saturation was initially 91% on room air, with a new oxygen requirement of 2 L by nasal cannula. Which of the following lab values would suggest anemia of chronic disease as the underlying etiology?