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Pathology Flashcards

6 cards from real USMLE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Pathology flashcards as text

  1. A 55-year-old smoker presents with a central lung mass, hypercalcemia, and finger clubbing. Histology shows keratin pearls and intercellular bridges. What is the diagnosis?

    Answer: Squamous cell carcinoma

    Squamous cell carcinoma arises centrally, produces PTHrP causing hypercalcemia, and shows keratin pearls with intercellular bridges on histology.

  2. Which type of necrosis is characteristic of tuberculosis granulomas?

    Answer: Caseous necrosis

    Caseous necrosis is characteristic of granulomatous inflammation in TB, producing a cheese-like gross appearance due to incomplete digestion of cellular debris.

  3. A patient with SLE has a positive ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction mediates the kidney damage in lupus nephritis?

    Answer: Type III (immune complex-mediated)

    Lupus nephritis is caused by deposition of immune complexes (dsDNA-anti-dsDNA) in the glomerular basement membrane, activating complement and causing type III hypersensitivity injury.

  4. Which tumor marker is elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma?

    Answer: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

    AFP is the primary tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is also elevated in yolk sac tumors and in normal fetal liver.

  5. A 30-year-old woman has a breast mass that moves freely, is rubbery, and has well-defined borders. No lymph node involvement. What is the most likely diagnosis?

    Answer: Fibroadenoma

    Fibroadenoma is the most common benign breast tumor in young women, presenting as a well-circumscribed, rubbery, freely movable mass with no lymph node involvement.

  6. A patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has the Philadelphia chromosome. Which genetic translocation produces this?

    Answer: t(9;22)

    CML is characterized by t(9;22), creating the BCR-ABL fusion gene on the Philadelphia chromosome, which encodes a constitutively active tyrosine kinase.