Diff Dx Unit 1 Quiz

What should a PT do if a patient being treated for cervical disc protrusion reports new urinary incontinence?

Contact the referring physician immediately.

A screening exam is NOT intended to answer what question?

Is this the appropriate medical diagnosis?

What qualifies a patient for additional professional medical referral?

No apparent movement dysfunction, causative factors, or syndrome can be identified.

What is the purpose of differential diagnosis in a client referred for PT?

To recognize a need for medical referral or referral to other healthcare professionals.

What is the common stiffness pattern in systemic inflammatory disorders like RA?

Prolonged morning stiffness lasting more than an hour.

When may night pain be musculoskeletal in origin?

When change of position relieves the pain.

Which site is uncommon for referred pain of systemic origin?

Knee.

Which patient history finding is NOT a red flag?

Chronological age at onset of injury.

Pain that starts 3–5 minutes after activity and goes away with rest suggests pain from what origin?

Vascular origin.

Which condition is most associated with men and women aged 50+?

Colon cancer.

What should a PT ask the PCP if a patient has chest tightness, left medial arm/4th-5th digit pain, sweats, and prior MI?

Where should this patient go to be examined/seen?

What is the purpose of the Review of Systems during screening?

Recognize clusters of associated signs and symptoms.

If a patient’s mother has colon cancer, what is the next best follow-up question?

At what age was your mother diagnosed with colon cancer?

If a patient had meniscus surgery 5 years ago, what is the next best follow-up question?

Are you currently limited or restricted functionally in any way regarding the use of that knee?

What is the most common cause of back pain referred from the stomach?

Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If pain increases after taking NSAIDs, what disorder should be screened for?

Peptic ulcer.

Which organ may refer pain to the cervical spine?

Liver.

A patient has a history of prostate cancer. Pain in what region may require medical contact?

Sacrum.

Which finding most increases concern that back pain could be cancer-related?

Patient history of breast or prostate cancer.

Breast cancer will most likely NOT metastasize to what site?

Stomach.

Which is NOT considered a constitutional symptom?

Anxiety.

Which patient comment represents malaise?

I feel like I have been getting sick the past 6 weeks.

Which question best helps determine whether communication with the MD is warranted?

Is your MD aware of this?

What finding would be expected in the outpatient orthopedic population?

Sensory or motor deficit following a dermatomal or myotomal pattern.

Which situation would NOT cause a finding to be a red flag?

The finding has been present previously in another episode.

Which fatigue statement becomes a red flag?

For the past 3–4 weeks, I’ve been so tired by the end of dinner that I can’t even take a shower.

Bluish discoloration of lips, hands, nail beds, or fingers is called what?

Cyanosis.

Which system can be ruled out in lumbar-pelvic pain?

Cardiopulmonary.

What cough finding should raise concern?

Sputum is the colors of Christmas cards and earth tones.

Difficulty breathing when lying supine is called what?

Orthopnea.

Which condition would NOT typically cause nausea and vomiting?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Bright bloody red stools are called what?

Hematochezia.

Which sign could be associated with cardiovascular pathology?

Syncope.

Which urinary frequency report warrants concern?

During the past 4–6 weeks, I have been waking up 2–3 times a night to urinate.

Which symptom best represents a potential upper GI disorder?

Melena.

What sign of hypertension might be observed or found in patient history?

Nocturnal urinary frequency.