COMLEX Level 3 2025 – Complete Study Guide
& Prep Tips REAL EXAM!!!
Diagnostic modality of choice for retropharyngeal abscess - ANSWER ✔---Contrast-enhanced CT of
the neck
Prophylactic treatment for cluster headaches - ANSWER ✔---Verapamil, prednisone, valproic acid,
topiramate and ergotamine
Acute treatment for cluster headaches - ANSWER ✔---100% oxygen (1st line), oral sumatriptan (or
SQ) and intranasal lidocaine
Appearance of strep species on Gram stain - ANSWER ✔---Gram-positive cocci in chains
Appearance of staph species on Gram stain - ANSWER ✔---Gram-positive cocci in clusters
What is one main factor to determine whether patient had a syncopal episode or generalized tonic-
clonic seizure - ANSWER ✔---Whether they lost bladder control
What is a parasite that is required by eating contaminated raw or undercooked fish and frequently
presents with signs of vitamin B12 deficiency - ANSWER ✔---Diphyllobothium latum
,What parasite is acquired via the fecal oral route or ingestion of undercooked pork, migrates through
the lungs, coughed up then swallowed into the intestines, symptoms include SBO and malnutrition -
ANSWER ✔---Ascaris lumbricoides
What parasite penetrates human skin that comes into contact with soil contaminated by infected feces,
lifecycle includes migration from the bloodstream, to the lungs, causing cough and are swallowed and
remain in the duodenum/jejunum, symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and
malnutrition - ANSWER ✔---Strongyloides stercoralis
A parasite is a tapeworm obtained by ingestion of undercooked infected pork or of food/water
contaminated by infected human feces, cause cyst formation in the brain, muscles, skin and heart,
symptoms related to orgANSWER affected including seizures, pain/soreness, skin lesions and
arrhythmias - ANSWER ✔---Taenia solium
What abnormalities are included in the tetralogy of Fallot - ANSWER ✔---Pulmonic stenosis, right
ventricular hypertrophy, VSD and overriding aorta
Treatment of choice for incarcerated/strangulated inguinal hernia? - ANSWER ✔---Urgent surgical
repair
(Manual reduction is an option for asymptomatic hernias which are not incarcerated/strangulated)
Treatment for erythema multiforme? - ANSWER ✔---In erythema multiforme minor/mild cases,
treatment with topical corticosteroids and other supportive measures as first-line
In patients with erythema multiform a including severe oral lesions interfere with eating or drinking,
treatment is with oral prednisone
How to distinguish between erythema multiforme minor, major, SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis? -
ANSWER ✔---Erythema multiforme minor includes target lesions localized to extremities with little
to no mucosal involvement
Erythema multiforme major includes target lesions localized to extremities plus involvement of one of
her mucous membranes and involves less than 10% of body surface area
, SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis both involve widespread blisters with involvement of the face and
trunk, SJS involves less than 10% BSA and TN greater than 30% BSA
What is the best research study design to delineate specific effective exposure on and out over time and
the ethics of the proposal are such that it been appropriate to administer the the exposure to study
subjects? - ANSWER ✔---Case control study
What future of malignant melanoma is the most important prognostic indicator? - ANSWER ✔---
Depth of invasion
Self-limited illness characterized by fever, malaise, anorexia, headache and myalgias in a patient who
recently traveled to the western part of the US and participate in outdoor activities such as camping or
hiking? - ANSWER ✔---West Nile virus
What is the movement of cranial bones that occurs during sphenobasilar flexion? - ANSWER ✔---
There is flexion of midline bones, external rotation of. Bones, decreased AP diameter of the cranium and
extension of the sacrum
How do prevalence studies misrepresent acute and chronic diseases? - ANSWER ✔---As the only
look at snapshot of current cases at that time, prevalence studies over represent chronic diseases and
underrepresent acute diseases
Acute treatment for platelet dysfunction secondary to uremia? - ANSWER ✔---Desmopressin
(Dialysis also improves bleeding time and will likely be performed)
35-year-old male brought to the ED secondary to acting strangely and having an impaired gait for the
past 3 weeks, spent previous 15 months in Japan for work, while there enjoyed local food and consumed
large quantities of oil in Dolphin meat, clinically patient appears to have decreased level of alertness,
memory deficit, responding to internal auditory hallucinations, neurologic exam shows tremor, ataxia,
asymmetrical sensory deficit of the hands and feet, which is most likely diagnosis? - ANSWER ✔---
Delirium
& Prep Tips REAL EXAM!!!
Diagnostic modality of choice for retropharyngeal abscess - ANSWER ✔---Contrast-enhanced CT of
the neck
Prophylactic treatment for cluster headaches - ANSWER ✔---Verapamil, prednisone, valproic acid,
topiramate and ergotamine
Acute treatment for cluster headaches - ANSWER ✔---100% oxygen (1st line), oral sumatriptan (or
SQ) and intranasal lidocaine
Appearance of strep species on Gram stain - ANSWER ✔---Gram-positive cocci in chains
Appearance of staph species on Gram stain - ANSWER ✔---Gram-positive cocci in clusters
What is one main factor to determine whether patient had a syncopal episode or generalized tonic-
clonic seizure - ANSWER ✔---Whether they lost bladder control
What is a parasite that is required by eating contaminated raw or undercooked fish and frequently
presents with signs of vitamin B12 deficiency - ANSWER ✔---Diphyllobothium latum
,What parasite is acquired via the fecal oral route or ingestion of undercooked pork, migrates through
the lungs, coughed up then swallowed into the intestines, symptoms include SBO and malnutrition -
ANSWER ✔---Ascaris lumbricoides
What parasite penetrates human skin that comes into contact with soil contaminated by infected feces,
lifecycle includes migration from the bloodstream, to the lungs, causing cough and are swallowed and
remain in the duodenum/jejunum, symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and
malnutrition - ANSWER ✔---Strongyloides stercoralis
A parasite is a tapeworm obtained by ingestion of undercooked infected pork or of food/water
contaminated by infected human feces, cause cyst formation in the brain, muscles, skin and heart,
symptoms related to orgANSWER affected including seizures, pain/soreness, skin lesions and
arrhythmias - ANSWER ✔---Taenia solium
What abnormalities are included in the tetralogy of Fallot - ANSWER ✔---Pulmonic stenosis, right
ventricular hypertrophy, VSD and overriding aorta
Treatment of choice for incarcerated/strangulated inguinal hernia? - ANSWER ✔---Urgent surgical
repair
(Manual reduction is an option for asymptomatic hernias which are not incarcerated/strangulated)
Treatment for erythema multiforme? - ANSWER ✔---In erythema multiforme minor/mild cases,
treatment with topical corticosteroids and other supportive measures as first-line
In patients with erythema multiform a including severe oral lesions interfere with eating or drinking,
treatment is with oral prednisone
How to distinguish between erythema multiforme minor, major, SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis? -
ANSWER ✔---Erythema multiforme minor includes target lesions localized to extremities with little
to no mucosal involvement
Erythema multiforme major includes target lesions localized to extremities plus involvement of one of
her mucous membranes and involves less than 10% of body surface area
, SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis both involve widespread blisters with involvement of the face and
trunk, SJS involves less than 10% BSA and TN greater than 30% BSA
What is the best research study design to delineate specific effective exposure on and out over time and
the ethics of the proposal are such that it been appropriate to administer the the exposure to study
subjects? - ANSWER ✔---Case control study
What future of malignant melanoma is the most important prognostic indicator? - ANSWER ✔---
Depth of invasion
Self-limited illness characterized by fever, malaise, anorexia, headache and myalgias in a patient who
recently traveled to the western part of the US and participate in outdoor activities such as camping or
hiking? - ANSWER ✔---West Nile virus
What is the movement of cranial bones that occurs during sphenobasilar flexion? - ANSWER ✔---
There is flexion of midline bones, external rotation of. Bones, decreased AP diameter of the cranium and
extension of the sacrum
How do prevalence studies misrepresent acute and chronic diseases? - ANSWER ✔---As the only
look at snapshot of current cases at that time, prevalence studies over represent chronic diseases and
underrepresent acute diseases
Acute treatment for platelet dysfunction secondary to uremia? - ANSWER ✔---Desmopressin
(Dialysis also improves bleeding time and will likely be performed)
35-year-old male brought to the ED secondary to acting strangely and having an impaired gait for the
past 3 weeks, spent previous 15 months in Japan for work, while there enjoyed local food and consumed
large quantities of oil in Dolphin meat, clinically patient appears to have decreased level of alertness,
memory deficit, responding to internal auditory hallucinations, neurologic exam shows tremor, ataxia,
asymmetrical sensory deficit of the hands and feet, which is most likely diagnosis? - ANSWER ✔---
Delirium
