Diagnostic Studies Flashcards
7 cards from real NCCPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Diagnostic Studies flashcards as text
A 35-year-old woman has a hemoglobin of 9 g/dL, MCV of 72 fL, low serum ferritin, and elevated TIBC. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Iron deficiency anemia
Low ferritin with elevated TIBC and microcytic anemia is the classic pattern of iron deficiency anemia.
Spirometry shows FEV1/FVC ratio of 0.60 with no significant bronchodilator response. Which pattern does this represent?
Answer: Obstructive lung disease
An FEV1/FVC ratio below 0.70 indicates airflow obstruction; lack of bronchodilator response suggests fixed obstruction as in COPD.
A patient with suspected pulmonary embolism has a Wells score of 7. What is the next appropriate step?
Answer: CT pulmonary angiography
A Wells score ≥5 indicates high pre-test probability for PE; CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the definitive diagnostic test.
Which lab finding best differentiates prerenal azotemia from acute tubular necrosis?
Answer: Fractional excretion of sodium < 1%
FeNa < 1% indicates the tubules are intact and avidly reabsorbing sodium, consistent with prerenal azotemia rather than ATN.
A 50-year-old male has a PSA of 5.2 ng/mL. What is the most appropriate next step?
Answer: Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy
An elevated PSA (>4 ng/mL) warrants further evaluation with prostate biopsy to rule out prostate cancer.
A chest X-ray shows a 'sail sign' in a pediatric patient. What does this indicate?
Answer: Thymic shadow
The 'sail sign' on chest X-ray in children represents a normal thymic shadow, which can be mistaken for pathology.
Which ECG finding is most associated with hyperkalemia?
Answer: Peaked T waves
Peaked (tall, narrow, symmetric) T waves are the earliest ECG manifestation of hyperkalemia.