Respiratory Medicine Virtual OSCE Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering diagnostic signs, respiratory conditions, imaging techniques, and clinical scoring systems used in the Virtual OSCE series by Dr. Bharath Kathi.

Cushing syndrome

A paraneoplastic syndrome caused by the ectopic production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in certain lung cancers, such as carcinoid tumors.

P40

An immunohistochemistry (IHC) marker that, when positive, points toward a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Crazy paving pattern

A radiological pattern on CT chest films characterized by ground glass opacities and interstitial thickening, classically seen in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

An imaging technique using near-infrared light to generate high-resolution images ($\\pm 10-15\\,\\mu m$ resolution and $2-3\\,mm$ depth) of tissue structures like the airway wall.

Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE)

An emerging endoscopic imaging technology that provides real-time images of airways and alveoli with a resolution up to $3.5\\,\\mu m$ using a $488\\,nm$ laser light.

Hilum overlay sign

A sign used to determine the location of a hilar opacity; if vasculature can be seen through the opacity, the lesion is anterior or posterior to the hilum.

CURB-65

A scoring system used to assess the severity of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) based on Confusion, Urea ($> 7\\,mmol/L$), Respiratory rate ($\\ge 30/min$), Blood pressure ($SBP < 90\\,mm\\,Hg$ or $DBP \\le 60\\,mm\\,Hg$), and Age ($\\ge 65$).

Hamman sign

A rare medical sign characterized by a crunching, rasping, or popping sound synchronous with the heartbeat, caused by heart beating against air-filled tissues in the mediastinum.

Achalasia Cardia

A failure of organized esophageal peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, resulting in food stasis and esophageal dilatation.

Soluble mesothelin related peptide (SMRP)

A serum biomarker used in the evaluation of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Reed sternberg cells

Large cells with at least two nuclei or nuclear lobes and prominent nucleoli, characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Water lily sign

Also known as the 'camolette' sign, it occurs when the endocyst layer of a hydatid cyst collapses and floats on the remaining fluid.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis

A disease caused by a mutation in the $SLC34A2$ gene (type IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter), leading to the formation of calcified spherules called microliths in the alveolar spaces.

Hampton's hump sign

A wedge-shaped opacity on a chest X-ray with the base against the pleura, indicative of pulmonary infarction in pulmonary thromboembolism.

Broncholithiasis

The presence of calcified or ossified materials within the tracheobronchial tree, often leading to 'lithoptysis' (expectoration of calcific substance).

Caplan’s syndrome

The clinical combination of rheumatoid arthritis and pneumoconiosis, characterized by cavitating pulmonary nodules.

Feeding vessel sign

A radiological sign where a distinct vessel leads directly to a nodule or mass, indicating a hematogenous origin, seen in septic pulmonary embolism or aspergillosis.

Talc

A hydrous magnesium silicate used in pleurodesis with the chemical formula $Mg_3Si_4O_{10}(OH)_2$.

Head cheese sign

Also known as the three-density pattern on HRCT, it refers to the juxtaposition of ground-glass opacities, mosaic attenuation (air trapping), and normal lung tissue, seen in Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

A genetic condition caused by defects in motile cilia (absence of dynein arms or radial spokes), also known as Kartagener’s syndrome when presenting with situs inversus, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis.

Anion Gap

A calculation ($[Na^+] - ([Cl^-] + [HCO_3^-])$) used to evaluate metabolic acidosis; a normal gap is approximately $10\\,mEq/L$ to $12\\,mEq/L$.

PleuroParenchymal Fibro Elastosis (PPFE)

A rare condition characterized by upper zone pleural thickening and subpleural consolidation with coarse reticulation and traction bronchiectasis.

Pleural Vent

A device used for ambulatory management of spontaneous or iatrogenic pneumothorax, featuring a small-bore catheter and a one-way valve.

Bronchial artery embolisation

An interventional procedure used to treat recurrent moderate to massive hemoptysis by occluding bronchial arteries using agents like polyvinyl alcohol or gelatin sponge.

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome

A condition also known as tracheobronchomegaly, characterized by marked dilatation of the trachea and main bronchi due to atrophy of elastic fibers.

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

An autosomal recessive disorder resulting in oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis due to platelet dysfunction, and pulmonary fibrosis (NSIP pattern).

Mechanic's hands

A clinical sign of anti-synthetase syndrome characterized by roughening and cracking of the skin on the tips and sides of the fingers.

Back Extrapolated Volume (BEV)

A spirometry parameter used to determine the start of a forced expiratory maneuver; it must be less than $5\\%$ of the FVC or $0.100\\,L$ to be considered acceptable.

Polo mint sign

A CT angiogram finding of a partial filling defect in a blood vessel surrounded by a rim of contrast material, indicative of pulmonary embolism.

Cheerio sign

Also known as the open bronchus sign, it refers to a pulmonary nodule with a central lucency caused by a patent bronchus, seen in adenocarcinoma.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)

Formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome, diagnosed by criteria including asthma, blood eosinophilia ($> 10\\%$), mononeuropathy, and extravascular eosinophils.