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10 Must-Know Pulmonary Embolism MCQs: Think You Can Score 100%? Put Your Knowledge to the Test!
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a critical condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Whether you’re a medical student, healthcare professional, or preparing for an exam, understanding the complexities of PE is vital. In this post, we’ve compiled 10 essential multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on pulmonary embolism, complete with detailed answers and explanations to help solidify your knowledge. Test yourself and see how well you understand the key aspects of PE, from its causes to its management.
Ready to challenge yourself? Let’s dive into these crucial questions and enhance your grasp of pulmonary embolism.
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Question of
Which of the following is the most common cause of pulmonary embolism (PE)?
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Air embolism
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Fat embolism
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Amniotic fluid embolism
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Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE)
Correct Wrong
Over 95% of pulmonary embolisms are due to pulmonary thromboembolism, where a blood clot obstructs the pulmonary artery or its branches.
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Question of
What is the primary source of thrombi that cause pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE)?
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Superficial veins of the lower extremities
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Deep veins of the lower extremities
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Pulmonary veins
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Arteries of the upper extremities
Correct Wrong
In more than 95% of cases, the thrombus causing PTE originates from deep veins of the lower extremities, which is also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
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Question of
Which of the following factors is categorized as a strong risk factor for developing pulmonary embolism?
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Bed rest for more than 3 days
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Knee arthroscopy
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Central venous catheter
Correct Wrong
According to the risk stratification table, a central venous catheter is considered a strong risk factor, while bed rest, knee arthroscopy, and obesity are moderate or weak risk factors.
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Question of
Which of the following is a common clinical manifestation of pulmonary embolism?
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Bradycardia
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Hypothermia
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Tachypnea
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Weight loss
Correct Wrong
Tachypnea (rapid breathing) is a common clinical sign of PE, observed in around 70% of cases. Other frequent symptoms include dyspnea and chest pain.
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Question of
Which imaging modality is most commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism?
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MRI of the lungs
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Chest X-ray
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Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan
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CT pulmonary angiography
Correct Wrong
CT pulmonary angiography is the gold standard for confirming or excluding pulmonary embolism as it directly visualizes filling defects in the pulmonary arteries.
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Question of
Which scoring system is used to assess the clinical probability of pulmonary embolism?
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CHA2DS2-VASc
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Wells score
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APACHE score
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Child-Pugh score
Correct Wrong
The Wells scoring system is commonly used to estimate the likelihood of pulmonary embolism based on various clinical criteria.
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Question of
Which of the following is a characteristic finding in arterial blood gas analysis in a patient with pulmonary embolism?
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Hypercapnia
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Hypoxemia without hypercapnia
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Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Wrong
Pulmonary embolism often leads to hypoxemia (low oxygen levels) without hypercapnia (elevated CO2 levels) due to ventilation-perfusion mismatch.
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Question of
What is the preferred treatment for a hemodynamically unstable patient with massive pulmonary embolism?
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Anticoagulation with warfarin
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Fibrinolytic therapy
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Oral antiplatelet agents
Correct Wrong
In hemodynamically unstable patients, fibrinolytic therapy is recommended to rapidly dissolve the clot and restore pulmonary circulation.
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Question of
Which clinical finding would most likely suggest the presence of a pulmonary infarction secondary to PE?
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Sharp pleuritic chest pain
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Cyanosis
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Hemoptysis
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Bradycardia
Correct Wrong
Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) is a common sign of pulmonary infarction, which occurs in about 10% of PE cases when the blood supply to lung tissue is compromised.
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Question of
What is the role of D-dimer testing in the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary embolism?
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To confirm the diagnosis of PE
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To rule out the diagnosis in patients with low clinical probability
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To differentiate between PE and myocardial infarction
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To assess the severity of PE
Correct Wrong
Elevated D-dimer levels suggest the presence of a thrombotic process, but due to its low specificity, it is mainly used to exclude PE in patients with a low probability based on clinical assessment.
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