An elderly woman with dementia is brought in by her daughter for a "rectal mass." On examination you notice a moist pink mass protruding from the anus, which is nontender. It is soft and does not have any associated bleeding. Which of the following is most likely?

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Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment Practice Questions Questions

Question 1 of 9

An elderly woman with dementia is brought in by her daughter for a "rectal mass." On examination you notice a moist pink mass protruding from the anus, which is nontender. It is soft and does not have any associated bleeding. Which of the following is most likely?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum protrudes through the anus. It typically appears as a moist, pink mass that protrudes outside the body. The prolapse is usually painless and can be seen and felt by the patient or the examiner. It is commonly seen in elderly individuals, especially women, and those with conditions like chronic constipation, pelvic floor weakness, or dementia. On the other hand, external hemorrhoids are swollen veins located around the anus, usually painful and may cause bleeding. Perianal fistula is an abnormal tunnel-like connection between the skin near the anus and the rectum, which can cause pain and discharge. Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids that have descended outside the anal canal and may require manual reduction. Given the symptoms described in the scenario - a moist pink mass protruding from the anus that is nontender and soft without bleeding - the most likely diagnosis is rectal prol

Question 2 of 9

He is afebrile. His abdominal examination reveals normal bowel sounds, but he is very tender in the left upper quadrant and epigastric area. He has no Murphy's sign or tenderness in the right lower quadrant. The remainder of his abdominal examination is normal. His rectal, prostate, penile, and testicular examinations are normal. He has no inguinal hernias or tenderness with that examination. Blood work is pending. What etiology of abdominal pain is most likely causing his symptoms?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The patient's presentation of tenderness in the left upper quadrant and epigastric area, along with normal bowel sounds, is suggestive of acute pancreatitis. This condition typically presents with severe, steady epigastric pain that may radiate to the back or left upper quadrant. Patients may also have tenderness on physical examination in these areas. Acute pancreatitis is commonly associated with risk factors such as gallstones or excessive alcohol consumption.

Question 3 of 9

An elderly woman with dementia is brought in by her daughter for a "rectal mass." On examination you notice a moist pink mass protruding from the anus, which is nontender. It is soft and does not have any associated bleeding. Which of the following is most likely?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum protrudes through the anus. It typically appears as a moist, pink mass that protrudes outside the body. The prolapse is usually painless and can be seen and felt by the patient or the examiner. It is commonly seen in elderly individuals, especially women, and those with conditions like chronic constipation, pelvic floor weakness, or dementia. On the other hand, external hemorrhoids are swollen veins located around the anus, usually painful and may cause bleeding. Perianal fistula is an abnormal tunnel-like connection between the skin near the anus and the rectum, which can cause pain and discharge. Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids that have descended outside the anal canal and may require manual reduction. Given the symptoms described in the scenario - a moist pink mass protruding from the anus that is nontender and soft without bleeding - the most likely diagnosis is rectal prol

Question 4 of 9

A 29-year-old computer programmer comes to your office for evaluation of a headache. The tightening sensation is located all over the head and is of moderate intensity. It used to last minutes, but this time it has lasted for 5 days. He denies photophobia and nausea. He spends several hours each day at a computer monitor/keyboard. He has tried over-the-counter medication; it has dulled the pain but not taken it away. Based on this description, what is your most likely diagnosis?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The description provided fits the criteria for tension-type headache. Tension-type headaches are typically described as a mild to moderate, dull, band-like pressure or tightness around the head. They can last from minutes to days and are often triggered by stress, anxiety, poor posture, or prolonged computer use. The absence of symptoms like photophobia and nausea, along with the response to over-the-counter medication, further support the diagnosis of tension-type headache in this case. Other headache types such as migraines or cluster headaches usually present with additional symptoms like nausea, photophobia, or tearing of the eye, which are not mentioned in this scenario. Analgesic rebound headaches typically occur in individuals who overuse pain medications, leading to worsening headaches when the medication wears off, but this patient's history does not suggest such misuse.

Question 5 of 9

Ray works a physical job and notes pain when he attempts to lift his arm over his head. When you move the shoulder passively, he has full range of motion without pain and there is no gross swelling or tenderness. What type of joint disease does this most likely represent?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The scenario described suggests that Ray experiences pain only when actively lifting his arm over his head, which indicates the issue is likely originating from structures outside of the joint itself. When the shoulder is moved passively (moved by an external force), there is full range of motion without pain, suggesting that the limitation and pain occur due to muscles, tendons, or ligaments surrounding the joint rather than within the joint itself. In this case, the joint disease is likely to be extra-articular, involving structures such as muscles or tendons rather than being articular in nature.

Question 6 of 9

A 57-year-old maintenance worker comes to your office for evaluation of pain in his legs. He has smoked two packs per day since the age of 16, but he is otherwise healthy. You are concerned that he may have peripheral vascular disease. Which of the following is part of common or concerning symptoms for the peripheral vascular system?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Intermittent claudication is a common symptom of peripheral vascular disease. It is characterized by muscle pain or cramping in the legs, usually in the calves, thighs, or buttocks, that occurs during physical activity such as walking and is relieved by rest. This symptom is due to inadequate blood flow to the muscles during exercise. It is important to assess for intermittent claudication in patients with risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and hypertension, as it may indicate underlying peripheral arterial disease. The other symptoms listed (chest pressure with exertion, shortness of breath, knee pain) are not typically associated with peripheral vascular disease.

Question 7 of 9

A young woman comes to you with a cut on her finger caused by the lid of a can she was opening. She is pacing about the room, crying loudly, and through her sobs she says, "My career as a pianist is finished!" Which personality type exhibits these features?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The young woman in this scenario is exhibiting characteristics of histrionic personality disorder. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder tend to be overly dramatic, attention-seeking, and have a tendency to be excessively emotional in their reactions. The young woman's exaggerated response to a minor cut on her finger, along with her dramatic declaration that her career as a pianist is over, reflects the emotional and attention-seeking behaviors commonly associated with histrionic personality traits.

Question 8 of 9

A 30-year-old man notices a firm, 2-cm mass under his areola. He has no other symptoms and no diagnosis of breast cancer in his first-degree relatives. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In a 30-year-old man with a firm, 2-cm mass under his areola and no other symptoms, the most likely diagnosis is breast tissue. Gynecomastia is a common condition in males where there is proliferation of breast tissue. It typically presents as a firm subareolar mass and can occur due to hormonal imbalances, medication use, or underlying medical conditions. Given the lack of family history of breast cancer, absence of other symptoms, and the age of the patient, breast tissue is the most probable diagnosis in this case. Breast cancer is less likely in this scenario, especially without any additional concerning findings or family history. Fibrocystic disease and lymph node involvement are also less likely given the presentation of a firm mass under the areola.

Question 9 of 9

A 32-year-old white male comes to your clinic, complaining of aching on the right side of his testicle. He has felt this aching for several months. He states that as the day progresses the aching increases, but when he wakes up in the morning he is pain-free. He denies any pain with urination and states that the pain doesn't change with sexual activity. He denies any fatigue, weight gain, weight loss, fever, or night sweats. His past medical history is unremarkable. He is a married hospital administrator with two children. He notes that he and his wife have been trying to have another baby this year but have so far been unsuccessful despite frequent intercourse. He denies using tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs. His father has high blood pressure but his mother is healthy. On examination you see a young man appearing his stated age with unremarkable vital signs. On visualization of his penis, he is circumcised with no lesions. He has no scars along his inguinal area, and palpation of the area shows no lymphadenopathy. On palpation of his scrotum you feel testes with no discrete masses. Upon placing your finger through the right inguinal ring you feel what seems like a bunch of spaghetti. Asking him to bear down, you feel no bulges. The left inguinal ring is unremarkable, with no bulges on bearing down. His prostate examination is unremarkable. What abnormality of the scrotum does he most likely have?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The most likely abnormality of the scrotum that the patient has is a varicocele. This is indicated by the presence of a "bag of worms" feeling upon palpation of the right scrotum through the inguinal ring. Varicoceles are enlarged, twisted veins in the scrotum, similar to varicose veins that occur in the legs. They are more common on the left side, but can occur on the right side as well.

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