APEA APEA Differential Diagnosis Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 32-year-old woman presents with fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, and constipation. Which diagnosis is most likely?
- Hypothyroidism (Correct answer)
- Depression
- Anemia
- Cushing syndrome
Correct answer: Hypothyroidism
The constellation of fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, and constipation is classic for hypothyroidism due to decreased metabolic rate from insufficient thyroid hormone.
Question 2: A 55-year-old male smoker presents with hemoptysis, weight loss, and a new cough. The NP's first priority differential is:
- Lung cancer (Correct answer)
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Bronchiectasis
- COPD exacerbation
Correct answer: Lung cancer
In a middle-aged smoker, hemoptysis with constitutional symptoms (weight loss) must raise lung cancer as the top priority until proven otherwise.
Question 3: A young woman presents with episodic headache, diaphoresis, and hypertension with heart palpitations. Which rare diagnosis must be considered?
- Pheochromocytoma (Correct answer)
- Primary hypertension
- Panic disorder
- Migraine with aura
Correct answer: Pheochromocytoma
The triad of episodic headache, diaphoresis, and hypertension is the classic presentation of pheochromocytoma, a catecholamine-secreting adrenal tumor.
Question 4: A patient presents with unilateral facial pain, vesicular rash along the jaw line, and ear pain. The most likely diagnosis is:
- Herpes zoster (shingles) (Correct answer)
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Dental abscess
- Bell's palsy
Correct answer: Herpes zoster (shingles)
Unilateral dermatomal vesicular rash with pain in the facial area represents herpes zoster reactivation along the trigeminal nerve distribution.
Question 5: A 40-year-old presents with symmetric joint pain, morning stiffness lasting over 1 hour, and fatigue. Which diagnosis best fits this presentation?
- Rheumatoid arthritis (Correct answer)
- Osteoarthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Gout
Correct answer: Rheumatoid arthritis
Symmetric joint involvement, prolonged morning stiffness exceeding 1 hour, and fatigue are hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory arthropathy.
Question 6: A diabetic patient presents with a painful, beefy-red rash with satellite lesions in the skin folds. The most likely causative organism is:
- Candida albicans (Correct answer)
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Tinea corporis
- Herpes simplex
Correct answer: Candida albicans
Intertriginous candidiasis presents with erythematous plaques and characteristic satellite pustules in moist skin folds, particularly in diabetics.
APEA APEA Differential Diagnosis Questions and Answers 1
A 32-year-old woman presents with fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, and constipation.
Which diagnosis is most likely?