COMSAE 115 High-Yield Clinical Questions with
Verified Correct Answers
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Caused by rupture of a berry (saccular) aneurysm.
Basilar skull fracture
Characterized by 'Raccoon eyes' (periorbital ecchymosis), CSF otorrhea, and Battle's sign.
G6PD deficiency
Identified by bite cells and Heinz bodies on blood smear, hemolytic anemia after fava bean
ingestion.
Thyroid storm
Occurs in a patient with hyperthyroidism who develops fever, tachycardia, confusion, and
vomiting after surgery.
Neural tube defect
Main concern with elevated AFP in a pregnant woman's amniotic fluid (e.g., spina bifida).
Hereditary spherocytosis
Diagnosed with spherocytes, increased osmotic fragility, and negative Coombs test.
Ankylosing spondylitis
Associated with HLA-B27 positivity, low back pain, and uveitis.
Ulnar nerve
, Affected in a patient with 'claw hand' deformity and loss of sensation in the medial hand.
Left middle cerebral artery stroke
Causes sudden onset unilateral weakness, face droop, and expressive aphasia affecting Broca's
area.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Leads to impaired glycolysis and nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia.
Granulosa cell tumor
Identified by 'soap bubble' appearance on ovarian tumor histology.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Most likely pathogen in a patient with fever, cough with rusty sputum, and lobar consolidation
on CXR.
Pheochromocytoma
Diagnosed in a young patient with episodic palpitations, diaphoresis, hypertension, and elevated
catecholamines.
Portal hypertension
Cause of ascites with SAAG >1.1, low protein, and history of liver disease.
Epiglottitis
Characterized by 'thumb sign' on lateral neck X-ray and patient drooling with stridor.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Verified Correct Answers
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Caused by rupture of a berry (saccular) aneurysm.
Basilar skull fracture
Characterized by 'Raccoon eyes' (periorbital ecchymosis), CSF otorrhea, and Battle's sign.
G6PD deficiency
Identified by bite cells and Heinz bodies on blood smear, hemolytic anemia after fava bean
ingestion.
Thyroid storm
Occurs in a patient with hyperthyroidism who develops fever, tachycardia, confusion, and
vomiting after surgery.
Neural tube defect
Main concern with elevated AFP in a pregnant woman's amniotic fluid (e.g., spina bifida).
Hereditary spherocytosis
Diagnosed with spherocytes, increased osmotic fragility, and negative Coombs test.
Ankylosing spondylitis
Associated with HLA-B27 positivity, low back pain, and uveitis.
Ulnar nerve
, Affected in a patient with 'claw hand' deformity and loss of sensation in the medial hand.
Left middle cerebral artery stroke
Causes sudden onset unilateral weakness, face droop, and expressive aphasia affecting Broca's
area.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Leads to impaired glycolysis and nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia.
Granulosa cell tumor
Identified by 'soap bubble' appearance on ovarian tumor histology.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Most likely pathogen in a patient with fever, cough with rusty sputum, and lobar consolidation
on CXR.
Pheochromocytoma
Diagnosed in a young patient with episodic palpitations, diaphoresis, hypertension, and elevated
catecholamines.
Portal hypertension
Cause of ascites with SAAG >1.1, low protein, and history of liver disease.
Epiglottitis
Characterized by 'thumb sign' on lateral neck X-ray and patient drooling with stridor.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
