Basicmedical Key

Principles of diagnosis How is a diagnosis reached? Three steps: 1. History taking 2. Physical examination 3. Investigations Differential diagnoses How can a differential diagnosis be made? A logical differential…

Down’s syndromeAchondroplasiaTurner’s syndromeSee aboveSensorineural hearing loss (SNHL),SNHL, low hairline, webbed neckTall statureMarfan’s syndromeMixed hearing loss, arachnodactylyChanges in skin – loss of pigmentation – café-au-lait spots – depigmented patchesAlbinismNeurofibromatosis type 2VitiligoSNHLBilateral…

Common scars in cardiac surgery: (A) median sternotomy scar; (B) three chest drain scars associated with cardiac surgery (one draining the pericardial space and one in each pleural cavity); (C)…

What are the causes of a scrotal mass? Scrotal mass (by pathology) Congenital: hydrocoele, epididymal cyst Inflammatory/infective: epidiymo-orchitis, scrotal abscess

AP radiograph of the pelvis, summarising the lines to review when excluding subtle fractures: sacral arcuate lines, iliopectineal line (sciatic notch, along superior pubic ramus to symphysis pubis), ilioischial line…

What are the differences between a normal palpable aorta and an aneurysmal aorta? A normal aorta is pulsatile (displaces palpating hands vertically), whilst an aneurysmal aorta is expansile (displaces hands…

Mammogram of the right breast in right mediolateral (RML) view, showing a central discrete oval mass of increased density (arrow). Radiolabelled sentinel node nuclear tracer confirming an involved axillary node…

Breast scars and incisions. The commonest scars for non-cancer procedures are those following lumpectomy of benign lumps or following breast augmentation (cosmetic, or for breast asymmetry). The common procedures for…