Vascular Disease Review Questions

Fill-In-The-Blank: these statements are conceptual; as such there may be other correct answers in addition to the ones provided.

      triad describes the three elements leading to thrombosis: , , and .

     Acute unilateral leg swelling is a symptom of .

     Pulmonary emboli usually begin as in leg veins as a result of .

     Thrombi that develop in the left appendage are frequently caused by and can lead to brain .

     Atherosclerosis is the deposition of in the arterial walls.

     Dissections of the coronary arteries can fill the pericardium with blood resulting in .

     Congenital brain aneurysms are called aneurysms, whereas Charcot aneurysms are due to .

     The primary cause of aortic aneurysms is .

     Superficial dilated or veins are generally cosmetic, whereas deeper venous insufficiency can lead to and .

     The skin manifestation of vasculitis is .

     A common vasculitis that causes headache, scalp / jaw pain, and visual disturbances is arteritis.

     Amaurosis fugax is the temporary .

     A good lab test for granulomatosis with polyangiitis is . This vasculitis can cause , , and .

     Vasoconstriction of extremities is called . Its primary form is typically benign and brought on by .

     Benign vascular tumors are called . The infantile or "" form of this tumor increases after birth but often later.

     The malignant vascular tumor is associated with solar damage, chronic lymphedema, or .

      sarcoma occurs in immunosuppressed patients, but can also be geography-associated.

Multiple Choice Questions:

     1) You see a patient with both renal dysfunction and bloody cough, in addition to ruling out tuberculosis, you order a C-ANCA blood test to rule out:
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Temporal Arteritis
Metastatic Angiosarcoma
     
Explanation: Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis can have pathology of both the lung and kidney. Bloody noses may also be evident. A C-ANCA blood test has fairly good specificity and sensitivity for this disease.

     2) You see an elderly patient with scalp/jaw pain and unilateral visual changes; you suspect this patient may have:
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Temporal Arteritis
Metastatic Angiosarcoma
     
Explanation: Temporal (giant cell) arteritis is the most common vasculitis and leads to the symptoms mentioned, particularly in elderly patients.

     3) You see a young patient that notices their fingers often turn blue/white when exposed to cold; you:
Reassure the patient that although the symptoms may be concerning, the condition is benign.
Follow-up with a rheumatologist for a workup for autoimmune disease
Biopsy the skin to assess for a vasculopathy
Test for HHV-8
     
Explanation: Raynaud Phenomenon is a very common constriction of the extremities due to cold or stress; It is visually always a benign condition.

     4) You see a patient who complains of sudden, unilateral leg swelling after a long plane flight; you:
Tell the patient to elevate the leg and follow-up in a few days (watchful-waiting)
Order immediate follow-up including a vascular ultrasound to rule out a DVT
Assess the patient for an femoral artery dissection
Order a C-ANCA blood test
     
Explanation: Sudden unilateral leg swelling in this scenario is a symptom of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT must be diagnosed and treated (e.g., with heparin) to avoid pulmonary embolism (a potential fatal consequence).

     5) You see a patient who has the "worst headache of my life;" you:
Treat the patient with thrombolytic therapy
Check the patient's blood pressure and provide oral anti-hypertensive medication if necessary
Order a contrast CT to see if they patient may have a hemorrhagic or thrombotic stroke
Provide an analgesic and follow-up in a few days
     
Explanation: The patients system is a classic sign of a leaking (hemorrhagic) aneurysm, and is an emergency. Thrombolytic therapy would make the situation worse. A CT scan will help determine if the patient has a leaking aneurysm.


Email a question, comment, or concern: robert.camp@yale.edu