GI Diagnostic Procedures and Endoscopy 2

Question 1

Which modality is the preferred first-line imaging for suspected acute appendicitis in adult patients in the US?

Accepted Answer

CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis with IV contrast

Answer

CT abdomen/pelvis with IV contrast has the highest sensitivity (>95%) and specificity for diagnosing acute appendicitis in adults.

Question 2

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most accurate modality for staging which malignancy?

Accepted Answer

Esophageal and gastric cancer (T and N staging)

Answer

EUS provides high-resolution imaging of the esophageal and gastric wall layers for T staging and adjacent lymph nodes for N staging.

Question 3

The Alvarado score is a clinical scoring tool used to assess the probability of which GI condition?

Accepted Answer

Acute appendicitis

Answer

The Alvarado score uses symptoms, signs, and lab values (total 10 points) to stratify risk for acute appendicitis.

Question 4

Fecal calprotectin is most useful for distinguishing which two conditions?

Accepted Answer

Inflammatory bowel disease vs. irritable bowel syndrome

Answer

Fecal calprotectin is a sensitive noninvasive marker of intestinal inflammation, helping differentiate organic IBD from functional IBS.

Question 5

Which test is the gold standard for diagnosing H. pylori infection in patients who have not taken PPIs or antibiotics recently?

Accepted Answer

Urea breath test

Answer

The urea breath test detects active H. pylori infection by measuring labeled CO2 after ingestion of urea, with high sensitivity and specificity.

Gastrointestinal GI Practice Practice Test