Hematology
Endocrinology
USPSTF
Potpourri
Infectious Disease
100

M protein below 3 g/dL, clonal plasma cells comprising less than 10% of bone marrow cellularity, and the absence of end-organ damage define this premalignant plasma cell disorder.

What is MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance)?

100

Two fasting, early-morning total testosterone levels below this threshold — measured between 7 and 10 AM — are required to confirm male hypogonadism.

What is 300 ng/dL?

100

The USPSTF recommends that all persons who plan to or could become pregnant take this daily vitamin supplement to prevent neural tube defects.

What is folic acid?

100

Name for brief flashes of light associated with optic neuritis

What are phosphenes?

100

This tick-borne intraerythrocytic illness — treated with IV azithromycin plus oral atovaquone for severe disease — may require exchange transfusion when parasitemia exceeds 10% or severe hemolysis or organ failure is present.

What is babesiosis?

200

For isolated deletion of chromosome 5q on karyotype with low-risk MDS, this immunomodulatory drug is the treatment of choice.

What is lenalidomide? (Alt: Revlimid)

200

A 30-year-old woman with a prolactin of 180 µg/L and a 7-mm pituitary microadenoma causing amenorrhea and galactorrhea is best treated with this dopamine agonist, preferred over bromocriptine for superior efficacy and convenience.

What is cabergoline?

200

The USPSTF recommends annual low-dose CT screening for lung cancer in adults aged 50–80 who have at least this many pack-years of smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

What is 20 pack-years?

200

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score identifying patients who will benefit from liver transplantation.

What is MELD ≥15?

200

In MSSA native valve endocarditis, this antistaphylococcal beta-lactam — or its equivalent oxacillin, with cefazolin as an acceptable alternative — is the treatment of choice because vancomycin is inferior for MSSA.

What is nafcillin? (Accept: oxacillin, cefazolin)

300

When a prolonged clotting time is evaluated by mixing equal parts patient plasma with pooled normal plasma, failure to correct indicates this.

What is a circulating inhibitor (does not correct)? — This is the mixing study.

300

A young woman of Ashkenazi Jewish descent with oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, and a cycle day 5 17-hydroxyprogesterone of 8.2 ng/mL most likely has this diagnosis.

What is nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency?

300

For women aged 30–65, the USPSTF allows cervical cancer screening every 5 years with this standalone test, as an alternative to Pap smear alone or co-testing.

What is high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing?

300

Diagnosis defined by new organ dysfunction and increased intra-abdominal pressure

What is abdominal compartment syndrome?

300

For a non-pregnant patient with primary syphilis and documented severe penicillin allergy (anaphylaxis), this oral antibiotic is the CDC-recommended alternative

What is doxycycline?

400

In a patient with heavy menstrual bleeding and severe iron deficiency anemia, this is the two-word term for a platelet count of 545,000

What is reactive thrombocytosis (secondary to iron deficiency)?

400

In asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroidectomy is indicated if any one of several criteria is met. Name two criteria involving bone, kidney, or calcium.

Accept any two: BMD T-score ≤−2.5, vertebral fracture on imaging, CrCl <60 mL/min, nephrocalcinosis/nephrolithiasis, 24-hr urine calcium >400 mg/day, serum calcium >1 mg/dL above ULN, or age <50 years.

400

The USPSTF recommends screening all pregnant patients for this condition at the first prenatal visit or between 12 and 16 weeks for this, even if asymptomatic

What is asymptomatic bacteriuria?

400

More potent opioid that results from hepatic cytochrome P450 conversion of hydrocodone

What is hydromorphone? (accept Dilaudid)

400

This human herpesvirus — also associated with Kaposi sarcoma — is the causative agent of multicentric Castleman disease.

What is Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)?

500

This rare autosomal dominant bleeding disorder — caused by a gain-of-function mutation in the urokinase plasminogen activator gene — causes increased fibrinolysis, a normal platelet count, and bleeding that responds to antifibrinolytic therapy but not to platelets or factor replacement.

What is Quebec platelet disorder?

500

An adrenal mass with unenhanced CT attenuation above this value in Hounsfield units — indicating lipid-poor composition — requires biochemical screening for pheochromocytoma.

What is 10 Hounsfield units (HU > 10)?

500

The USPSTF assigns a Grade A recommendation to screen for this infection in all pregnant persons at their first prenatal visit — and separately recommends screening nonpregnant persons only if at increased risk.

What is syphilis?

500

Bouchard's nodules involve these joints

What are proximal interphalangeal joints? (Accept PIP joints)

500

In institutions using trough-based vancomycin monitoring for MRSA vertebral osteomyelitis, the target minimum trough is at or above this level. 

[NOTE: Current guidelines favor AUC-guided dosing over trough monitoring — so will also accept target AUC/MIC]

What is ≥15 µg/mL? [Modern guidelines: target AUC/MIC 400–600]