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pulmonary disease

Practice targeted AMC-style multiple-choice questions on pulmonary disease.

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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 28-year-old female presents with a chronic cough and fatigue. She has no significant past medical history but reports recent travel to Southeast Asia. A chest PET-CT was performed. What is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Order a bronchoscopy with biopsy
B. Start a trial of inhaled corticosteroids
C. Repeat the PET-CT scan in 3 months
D. Initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy
E. Prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics
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A 48-year-old woman presents to her GP with a 3-month history of increasing fatigue, exertional dyspnoea, and a persistent cough productive of small amounts of mucus. She mentions a history of recurrent 'sinus infections' over the past year, often treated with antibiotics. She has recently felt lightheaded on standing. On examination, her blood pressure is 95/60 mmHg, pulse 88 bpm, respiratory rate 20 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 96% on room air. Chest auscultation reveals diffuse expiratory wheezes. Blood tests performed last week show haemoglobin 85 g/L (reference range 120-150), MCV 72 fL (reference range 80-100), and normal white cell count and platelet count. Spirometry performed concurrently shows an FEV1/FVC ratio of 0.65 (predicted >0.70) with partial reversibility after bronchodilator. Considering the clinical presentation and investigations, what is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Order ANCA testing.
B. Initiate iron supplementation and investigate for gastrointestinal blood loss.
C. Arrange a high-resolution CT scan of the chest and sinuses.
D. Refer for urgent bronchoscopy.
E. Prescribe a course of oral corticosteroids and review in one week.
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 45-year-old male presents with a 3-month history of cough and unintentional weight loss. He is a former smoker. Physical examination is unremarkable. A chest X-ray showed a nodule, and a PET-CT was performed for further characterisation, an axial view is shown. Considering the imaging findings and clinical presentation, what is the MOST appropriate next diagnostic step?

A. Initiate empirical anti-tuberculous therapy
B. Repeat sputum studies for acid-fast bacilli
C. Thoracic surgical referral for wedge resection
D. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy
E. Follow-up PET-CT in 3 months
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A 70-year-old man with severe COPD (FEV1 30% predicted), on triple inhaled therapy and supplemental oxygen, presents with a 3-day history of increased dyspnoea, productive cough with purulent sputum, and reduced exercise tolerance. He denies fever or chest pain. On examination, he is tachypnoeic (RR 24), saturating 88% on 2 L/min oxygen, with diffuse wheeze and prolonged expiration. His chest X-ray shows hyperinflation but no new infiltrates. His arterial blood gas on 2 L/min oxygen shows pH 7.32, pCO2 68 mmHg, pO2 55 mmHg, bicarbonate 35 mmol/L. Given this presentation, what is the most appropriate immediate management step?

A. Initiate non-invasive ventilation
B. Prescribe oral antibiotics
C. Administer intravenous corticosteroids
D. Increase supplemental oxygen flow rate
E. Perform a bronchoscopy
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A 32-year-old woman presents to the clinic with a 2-week history of a persistent cough and shortness of breath. She has no significant past medical history and is a non-smoker. On examination, she has bilateral wheezing and reduced breath sounds. A chest X-ray shows hyperinflation of the lungs. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
B. Asthma
C. Heart failure
D. Pneumonia
E. Pulmonary embolism
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A 57-year-old lady with a chronic cough, a 35 pack-year smoking history, and breathlessness with daily tasks has had spirometry done. What is the likely interpretation of the spirometry results?

A. Normal spirometry
B. Mod OAD, no reversibility.
C. Severe obstructive airway disease, with reversibility.
D. Restrictive pattern
E. Mild OAD, no reversibility.
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X-ray of hiatal hernia
Image by Ahmed Farhat, Daryn Towle CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents with increasing dyspnea. He has a history of GORD. The provided image was taken. What is the most appropriate next step?

A. Refer for surgical consultation for fundoplication.
B. Prescribe prokinetic agents to improve gastric emptying.
C. Initiate a trial of PPI therapy and lifestyle modifications.
D. Order a barium swallow study to further evaluate the anatomy.
E. Perform an upper endoscopy to assess for complications.
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A 72-year-old man presents to the clinic with progressive shortness of breath and a chronic cough producing white sputum. He has a 40-pack-year smoking history and worked in construction for most of his life. On examination, he has clubbing of the fingers and crackles at the lung bases. A chest X-ray shows diffuse reticular opacities, particularly at the lung bases. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
B. Lung cancer
C. Asbestosis
D. Congestive heart failure
E. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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A 40-year-old man presents with fever, pleuritic chest pain, and cough. A chest X-ray shows a pleural effusion. What is the next step in management?

A. Start steroids.
B. Perform a thoracentesis.
C. Start antibiotics.
D. Observe and repeat imaging in 2 weeks.
E. Order a CT scan.
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A 30-year-old woman presents to her GP with a 2-week history of a persistent cough, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss. She has recently returned from a trip to Southeast Asia. On examination, she appears thin and has crackles in the upper zones of her lungs. A chest X-ray shows cavitary lesions in the right upper lobe. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Pneumonia
D. Sarcoidosis
E. Lung cancer
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A 70-year-old woman with a history of diabetes presents with fever, cough, and weight loss. A chest X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Sarcoidosis
B. Lung cancer
C. Tuberculosis
D. Lung abscess
E. Pneumocystis pneumonia
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A 72-year-old retired builder with a 50 pack-year smoking history presents with a 3-month history of worsening cough, occasional streaks of blood in sputum, and unintentional weight loss of 6 kg. He reports mild dyspnoea on exertion, able to climb one flight of stairs before needing to rest. On examination, he is thin but alert, with an ECOG performance status of 1. Chest auscultation reveals decreased breath sounds over the right upper zone. A chest X-ray shows a 4.5 cm spiculated mass in the right upper lobe. There is no obvious pleural effusion or mediastinal widening. Full blood count, electrolytes, liver function tests, and renal function tests are within normal limits, except for a haemoglobin of 115 g/L. Spirometry shows FEV1 65% predicted, FVC 80% predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio 0.7.

A. Bronchoscopy with biopsy and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for mediastinal staging.
B. Pulmonary function tests including DLCO.
C. Mediastinoscopy for nodal biopsy.
D. CT-guided core biopsy of the mass.
E. PET-CT scan for whole-body staging.
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What is the recommended initial antibiotic regimen for severe community-acquired pneumonia in an Australian adult requiring ICU admission?

A. Ceftriaxone plus azithromycin
B. Azithromycin monotherapy
C. Ciprofloxacin monotherapy
D. Doxycycline monotherapy
E. Amoxicillin
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 32-year-old male, recent immigrant from a high-TB prevalence country, presents with a persistent cough and night sweats for the past two months. He denies fever or weight loss. Physical examination is unremarkable except for mild, diffuse rhonchi on auscultation. Sputum cultures are pending. A PET-CT scan of the chest was performed, the axial view is shown. Given the clinical context and imaging findings, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics for presumed bacterial pneumonia
B. Initiate a four-drug anti-tuberculosis regimen
C. Repeat the PET-CT scan in three months to assess for interval growth
D. Start a course of oral corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
E. Order a bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 28-year-old female, recently emigrated from Southeast Asia, presents to her general practitioner with complaints of fatigue, a persistent low-grade fever (37.8°C), and a non-productive cough that has been present for approximately one month. She denies any significant past medical history and is not currently taking any medications. Physical examination reveals slightly diminished breath sounds in the upper right lobe, but is otherwise unremarkable. Initial blood work, including a complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel, are within normal limits. A chest X-ray revealed a suspicious lesion in the right upper lobe, prompting a PET-CT scan, an axial slice of which is shown. Given the patient's history, clinical presentation, and the findings on the PET-CT scan, which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in the diagnostic workup?

A. Prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover community-acquired pneumonia.
B. Order a CT-guided needle biopsy of the lesion.
C. Start empiric treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (HRZE).
D. Refer the patient to a pulmonologist for bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage.
E. Initiate sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears and cultures.
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A 50-year-old Aboriginal man presents for a routine check. He has a history of smoking and lives in a remote community. What screening is most important to address his increased risk?

A. Cardiovascular risk assessment and diabetes screening
B. Glaucoma screening
C. Prostate cancer screening
D. Vitamin D deficiency screening
E. Osteoporosis screening
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A 60-year-old man presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of chest pain and shortness of breath. He has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is a current smoker. On examination, he is tachypneic and has decreased breath sounds on the right side. A chest X-ray reveals a large right-sided pneumothorax. What is the most appropriate initial management?

A. Start intravenous antibiotics
B. Insert a chest tube
C. Perform needle decompression
D. Administer high-flow oxygen
E. Order a CT scan of the chest
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 28-year-old female presents with a chronic cough and fatigue. She has no significant past medical history. A chest PET-CT was performed as part of her workup. The axial view is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management, considering the image and her presentation?

A. Bronchoscopy with biopsy
B. Referral for surgical resection
C. Initiate a trial of inhaled corticosteroids
D. Empiric antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia
E. Repeat PET-CT in 3 months
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For preterm neonate with RDS, when is surfactant most effective?

A. Prophylactically
B. After sepsis ruled out
C. After 24 hours
D. Early, within hours
E. Only if FiO2 > 0.8
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A 62-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 2 diabetes presents to the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath over the past two days. He reports a productive cough with greenish sputum and denies chest pain. On examination, he is using accessory muscles to breathe, has a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. His blood pressure is 130/85 mmHg, and his heart rate is 105 bpm. Auscultation of the chest reveals diffuse wheezing and decreased breath sounds bilaterally. An arterial blood gas analysis shows pH 7.32, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and PaO2 60 mmHg. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Initiate non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV)
B. Provide supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
C. Administer intravenous corticosteroids
D. Administer a bronchodilator nebulizer treatment
E. Start broad-spectrum antibiotics
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 28-year-old immunocompetent patient presents with a chronic cough and low-grade fever. Initial investigations, including sputum microscopy, are negative. A PET-CT scan was performed (image shown). What is the MOST appropriate next step?

A. Bronchoscopy with biopsy
B. Empiric antibiotic therapy
C. Referral for surgical resection
D. Repeat sputum cultures
E. Initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy
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X-ray of hiatal hernia
Image by Ahmed Farhat, Daryn Towle CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents to the ED with increasing shortness of breath and epigastric pain, especially when lying down. He has a history of GORD, hypertension and COPD. His vitals are stable. An X-ray is performed. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Administer intravenous antibiotics for possible aspiration pneumonia
B. Prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroids for COPD exacerbation
C. Order a barium swallow study to assess esophageal motility
D. Initiate a proton pump inhibitor and schedule an upper endoscopy
E. Perform a diagnostic thoracentesis to rule out pleural effusion
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A 35-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 3-day history of fever, chills, and a productive cough with greenish sputum. She has a history of asthma and is currently on inhaled corticosteroids. On examination, her temperature is 38.5°C, blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, heart rate is 110 bpm, and respiratory rate is 24 breaths per minute. Auscultation of the chest reveals wheezing and crackles in the right lower lung field. A chest X-ray shows consolidation in the right lower lobe. What is the most appropriate initial antibiotic therapy for this patient, considering her asthma and current presentation?

A. Azithromycin
B. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Levofloxacin
E. Doxycycline
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A 30-year-old woman presents with fever, hemoptysis, and night sweats. A chest X-ray shows a round lesion with an air-fluid level. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Tuberculosis
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Bronchiectasis
D. Lung cancer
E. Lung abscess
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A 28-year-old woman presents to the clinic with a 2-week history of fever, night sweats, and a non-productive cough. She has recently returned from a trip to rural Queensland. On examination, she has crackles in the right upper lung field. A chest X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Tuberculosis
B. Lung abscess
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Sarcoidosis
E. Pneumonia
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A 65-year-old man with a history of COPD presents with fever, productive cough, and shortness of breath for 3 days. On examination, he has crackles in the right lower lung field. A chest X-ray shows a right lower lobe consolidation. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Tuberculosis
B. Lung cancer
C. Heart failure
D. Pulmonary embolism
E. Community-acquired pneumonia
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 30-year-old recent immigrant from a high-TB prevalence country presents with a persistent cough and night sweats for 2 months. Sputum cultures are negative for acid-fast bacilli. A PET-CT scan was performed, and an image is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Repeat sputum cultures in one week
B. Initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy
C. Prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics
D. Order a bronchoscopy with biopsy
E. Start the patient on corticosteroids
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A 70-80 year old lady being treated for pulmonary embolism with a therapeutic dose of subcutaneous Enoxaparin is found to have multiple new pulmonary emboli. What is the most appropriate next step?

A. Start streptokinase infusion.
B. Switch to intravenous unfractionated heparin.
C. Switch to oral warfarin.
D. Increase the dose of subcutaneous enoxaparin.
E. Insert an IVC filter.
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 32-year-old male, recent immigrant from a high-TB prevalence country, presents with a persistent cough and night sweats for the past two months. He denies fever or weight loss. Physical examination is unremarkable except for mild scattered rhonchi on auscultation. Sputum cultures are negative for acid-fast bacilli. A PET-CT scan of the chest is performed, the axial view is shown. Given the clinical context and imaging findings, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Schedule a follow-up chest X-ray in 6 weeks to monitor for changes
B. Repeat sputum cultures for acid-fast bacilli with liquid media
C. Order a bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy of the lesion
D. Initiate a multi-drug anti-tuberculosis therapy regimen
E. Prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics for presumed bacterial pneumonia
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Giant hiatal hernia, CT image. 63 year old man.
Image by Jmarchn CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 63-year-old man presents to the ED with increasing shortness of breath and epigastric discomfort, particularly after meals. He has a history of GERD managed with occasional antacids. Physical examination reveals decreased breath sounds at the left lung base. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed, the axial view is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Surgical consultation for consideration of hiatal hernia repair
B. Initiate a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and reassess in 4 weeks
C. Perform a diagnostic thoracentesis to rule out pleural effusion
D. Prescribe prokinetic agents to improve gastric emptying
E. Order an upper endoscopy to evaluate for esophagitis
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X-ray of hiatal hernia
Image by Ahmed Farhat, Daryn Towle CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents to the ED with increasing shortness of breath and epigastric pain, especially when lying down. He has a history of GORD, hypertension and COPD. His vitals are stable. An X-ray is performed. What is the MOST likely underlying cause of his presentation?

A. Gastric malignancy
B. Esophageal dysmotility
C. Reduced lower esophageal sphincter tone
D. Aortic aneurysm
E. Pneumonia
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A 45-year-old man presents to the clinic with a 3-month history of persistent cough, night sweats, and weight loss. He has a history of smoking and works as a miner. On examination, he has decreased breath sounds and dullness to percussion over the right upper lobe. A chest X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Pulmonary tuberculosis
B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
C. Pneumonia
D. Lung cancer
E. Sarcoidosis
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A 45-year-old man presents to the clinic with a 3-month history of persistent cough and shortness of breath. He is a non-smoker and works as a carpenter. On examination, there are bilateral inspiratory crackles at the lung bases. A chest X-ray shows reticular opacities predominantly in the lower lobes. Pulmonary function tests reveal a restrictive pattern. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Bronchiectasis
B. Asthma
C. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
E. Sarcoidosis
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A 59-year-old lady with a past history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension, and no smoking history, presents with a 3-month history of cough, blood-tinged sputum, night sweats, and a 5 kg weight loss. What are the most appropriate initial investigations for the likely diagnosis?

A. CXR + 3 AFB sputum samples
B. Full blood count and inflammatory markers.
C. Bronchoscopy with biopsy.
D. IGRA
E. CT chest
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 35-year-old male presents with hemoptysis and weight loss. PET-CT is shown. Bronchoscopy with biopsy is MOST likely to reveal which of the following?

A. Adenocarcinoma in situ
B. Squamous cell carcinoma
C. Granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis
D. Small cell carcinoma
E. Mesothelioma
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A 70-year-old man with severe COPD (FEV1 35%) presents with increased cough, purulent sputum, and dyspnoea over 48 hours. He uses salbutamol PRN and tiotropium daily. His oxygen saturation is 88% on room air. Chest X-ray shows hyperinflation but no new consolidation. What is the most appropriate initial management step?

A. Administer controlled oxygen therapy targeting SpO2 88-92%.
B. Perform arterial blood gas analysis.
C. Initiate intravenous antibiotics.
D. Prescribe high-dose inhaled corticosteroids.
E. Administer nebulised salbutamol and ipratropium bromide.
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X-ray of hiatal hernia
Image by Ahmed Farhat, Daryn Towle CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old patient presents with intermittent chest discomfort and increasing shortness of breath, particularly after meals. Vitals are stable. Physical examination is unremarkable. A chest X-ray is performed. Considering the radiographic findings in the context of the patient's symptoms, what is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Trial of high-dose proton pump inhibitors
B. High-resolution CT chest
C. Barium swallow study
D. Referral for surgical assessment and repair
E. Urgent cardiac catheterisation
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A patient presents with severe community-acquired pneumonia. Which initial investigation is most crucial for guiding immediate management?

A. Blood cultures
B. Sputum culture
C. Full blood count
D. Chest X-ray
E. Arterial blood gas
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X-ray of hiatal hernia
Image by Ahmed Farhat, Daryn Towle CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents with increasing shortness of breath and epigastric discomfort, particularly after meals. He has a history of well-controlled hypertension and takes aspirin daily. An X-ray is performed. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Prescribe a H2 receptor antagonist
B. Order a barium swallow study
C. Initiate a proton pump inhibitor and lifestyle modifications
D. Perform an upper endoscopy
E. Refer for surgical consultation for fundoplication
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A 68-year-old man with moderate COPD (FEV1 55%) on a LAMA reports persistent breathlessness (mMRC 2) and one moderate exacerbation requiring oral steroids last year. What is the most appropriate next step in maintenance therapy?

A. Add an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
B. Increase the dose of the current LAMA.
C. Switch LAMA to a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA).
D. Add a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) as regular therapy.
E. Add a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA).
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For severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring ICU admission, which adjunctive therapy is recommended?

A. High-dose Vitamin C
B. IV Immunoglobulin
C. Prophylactic Antifungals
D. Corticosteroids
E. Nebulised Saline
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Initial bronchodilator for stable COPD, mMRC 2, 0 exacerbations/year?

A. SABA + SAMA PRN
B. LAMA or LABA
C. ICS + LABA
D. SABA PRN
E. LAMA + LABA
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 45-year-old male, who recently immigrated from India, presents to his primary care physician with a two-month history of progressive fatigue, unintentional weight loss of 7 kg, and intermittent night sweats. He denies any cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath. He has no significant past medical history and is not currently taking any medications. Physical examination reveals normal vital signs, including a temperature of 37.1°C, and clear breath sounds bilaterally. However, mild cervical lymphadenopathy is noted. Initial laboratory investigations, including a complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel, are unremarkable. A chest X-ray reveals a solitary pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe, which prompts a PET-CT scan for further evaluation. An axial slice from the PET-CT is shown. Given the patient's clinical presentation, immigration history, and the PET-CT findings, which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in establishing a definitive diagnosis?

A. Bronchoscopy with transbronchial needle aspiration of the lesion
B. Administer a purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test
C. Order a CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung nodule
D. Repeat PET-CT scan in three months to assess for interval growth
E. Initiate empiric antibiotic therapy with a broad-spectrum antibiotic
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A 55-year-old man presents to the clinic with a 3-month history of worsening cough, weight loss, and night sweats. He has a 30-pack-year smoking history and worked in construction for 20 years. On examination, he has clubbing of the fingers and decreased breath sounds in the right lower lung field. A chest X-ray shows a right lower lobe mass. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Order sputum cytology
B. Perform a PET scan
C. Refer for bronchoscopy
D. Obtain a CT scan of the chest
E. Start empirical antibiotics
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PET-CT of a tuberculoma
Image by Annemie Snoeckx, Pieter Reyntiens, Damien Desbuquoit, Maarten J. Spinhoven, Paul E. Van Schil, Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Paul M. Parizel CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 35-year-old male presents with a two-month history of fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and a persistent dry cough. He denies fever or night sweats. A PET-CT scan of the chest was performed (image shown). What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Repeat PET-CT in 3 months
B. Initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy
C. Bronchoscopy with biopsy
D. Empiric antibiotic therapy
E. Sputum culture for bacterial pathogens
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A 1-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with a 3-day history of cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The child has a fever of 38.5°C and a runny nose. On examination, the child appears in mild respiratory distress with nasal flaring and intercostal retractions. Auscultation reveals diffuse wheezing and crackles throughout the lung fields. The child has no significant past medical history and is up to date with vaccinations. A chest X-ray shows hyperinflation but no focal consolidation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Foreign body aspiration
B. Asthma
C. Croup
D. Bronchiolitis
E. Pneumonia
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Adult with suspected aspiration pneumonia. Initial antibiotic?

A. Doxycycline
B. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Ceftriaxone
E. Azithromycin
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CT scan showing hemothorax caused by warfarin use
Image by Cevik Y CC BY 3.0 · Source

A 78-year-old male on warfarin presents with acute shortness of breath. INR is 5.0. The provided image was obtained. What is the MOST likely underlying cause?

A. Pneumonia
B. Anticoagulation-related bleeding
C. Heart failure exacerbation
D. Pulmonary embolism
E. Spontaneous pneumothorax
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A 72-year-old man presents with 4 weeks of shortness of breath (SOB), shoulder pain, weight loss, cervical lymphadenopathy, and finger clubbing. What is the likely diagnosis?

A. Lung cancer
B. Tuberculosis
C. Multiple myeloma
D. Lymphoma
E. Sarcoidosis
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A 45-year-old man presents to his general practitioner with a 3-month history of persistent cough and occasional wheezing. He is a non-smoker and works as a carpenter. He reports that his symptoms worsen at work and improve on weekends. He has no significant past medical history and is not on any medications. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Viral upper respiratory tract infection
B. Pulmonary fibrosis
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
D. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
E. Occupational asthma
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