| Condition | Key Finding | Association | Board Exam Tip |
| Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) | Central/Stellate Scar; Centrifugal enhancement | Biliary duct epithelium present on high-dose scan | Remember F in FNH = Centrifugal. |
| Preeclampsia with Severe Features | BP > 160/110 mm Hg OR Thrombocytopenia OR AMS | Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) for seizure prophylaxis | Delivery is the cure; MgSO4 prevents eclamptic seizures. |
| Septic Shock | Low PCWP, High CO, Low SVR | Systemic vasodilation due to inflammatory mediators | Remember: Septic shock = Vasodilation/Low SVR. |
| Psoriasis Treatment | Topical Corticosteroids, Calcipotriol, Vitamin D analogs | Step-up therapy (Topical -> Systemic Methotrexate/Cyclosporine -> Biologics) | Do NOT use topical steroids for acne; they are first line for psoriasis. |
| Topic | Key Point | Context | Exam Relevance |
| HA vs FNH | HA: Star-tripod enhancement, no central scar. FNH: Central scar, centrifugal enhancement. | CT imaging of liver masses. | High yield for differentiating benign hepatic tumors. |
| Shock States | Cardiogenic: Low CO, High PCWP, High SVR. Septic: High CO, Low PCWP, Low SVR. Hypovolemic: Low CO, Low PCWP, High SVR. | Hemodynamic monitoring in critical care. | Understanding the underlying cause (pump failure vs vasodilation vs volume loss) dictates management. |
| Preeclampsia | Diagnosis requires HTN + Proteinuria. Severe features require MgSO4 and delivery planning. | Third trimester OBGYN presentation. | Critical for immediate stabilization and determining timing of delivery. |
| Biliary Pathologies | Cholecystitis: Fever/RUQ pain only. Ascending Colitis: Shick's triad (Fever/RUQ pain/Jaundice). | Acute abdominal workup with elevated LF Ts. | Knowing the specific combination of symptoms is key to diagnosis. |
| Board-speak / Vignette phrase | Diagnosis / Concept | Why it fits |
| A young woman taking OC Ps presents with a liver mass showing star-tripod enhancement on arterial CT, but no central scar is visible. | Hepatic Adenoma (HA) | HA is associated with estrogen use and classically shows this specific enhancement pattern without the defining FNH scar. |
| A patient with suspected hepatic mass has positive bile duct epithelium visualization on a high-dose scan, coupled with a centrifugal arterial phase enhancement pattern. | Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) | The combination of biliary duct presence and centrifugal enhancement is pathognomonic for FNH. |
| A woman presents in the third trimester with blood pressure 150/95 mm Hg, proteinuria, and signs of altered mental status. | Preeclampsia with Severe Features | Meets criteria: Hypertension + Proteinuria + Severe feature (AMS). Requires immediate MgSO4 and delivery planning. |
| A patient develops acute abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice; the obstruction is suspected to be at the common bile duct level. | Cholangitis/Cholidocolithiasis | Jaundice plus signs of infection points strongly to biliary obstruction requiring ERCP/MRCP. |
| A child presents with bilateral lower extremity pain worse at night, exacerbated by physical activity, and no palpable bony mass is found. | Growing Pains | Classic presentation: Bilateral, nocturnal worsening, linked to growth spurts; lacks the specific bony prominence of osteoid osteoma. |
| A patient develops acute abdominal symptoms following a history of chronic gastroenteritis, suggesting inflammation has created obstructing structures in the small bowel. | Crohn's Disease Stricture/Obstruction | Chronic inflammatory processes (like Crohn's) can lead to fibrosis and strictures causing mechanical obstruction. |
| Key Features | Distinguishing Findings | Next Step |
| Chronic Gastroenteritis (e.g., Crohn's) | Small bowel obstruction symptoms; History of chronic inflammation in the gut. | Colonoscopy/Enteroscopy to identify stricture location and cause. |
| Asherman's Syndrome | Uterine structural adhesions causing potential infertility or abnormal bleeding. | Diagnosis via Saline Infusion Sonohysterography (SIS) or Hysteroscopy; Treatment with estrogen therapy. |
| Key Features | Distinguishing Findings | Next Step |
| Acute Cholecystitis | Fever + RUQ pain only (no jaundice). Obstruction at cystic duct level. | Ultrasound/CT abdomen; Antibiotics and potential cholecystectomy. |
| Ascending Colitis | Shick's Triad: Fever + RUQ pain + Jaundice. Obstruction at common bile duct level. | ERCP for decompression; Broad-spectrum antibiotics. |
| Cholangitis/Colidocolithiasis | Pain + Jaundice (often mild). Obstruction at common bile duct level. | Imaging (MRCP/ERCP) to visualize obstruction and perform sphincterotomy/stone removal. |
🚨UTI Pathogens: When considering UTI in a young, sexually active female, Ureaplasma urealyticum must be considered due to its high yield and association with specific complications (e.g., pyelonephritis).
| Condition | Association | Mechanism | Clinical Significance |
| Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) | Centrifugal enhancement; Central scar | Benign liver tumor with vascular supply from the central feeding artery. | Distinguishes it from HA and is a classic board question topic. |
| Preeclampsia | Proteinuria, Hypertension, Severe features | Placental dysfunction leading to endothelial damage and vasoconstriction. | Requires immediate MgSO4 administration; delivery is definitive treatment. |
| Septic Shock | Systemic vasodilation (Histamine/Bradykinin release) | Massive inflammatory mediator release causes profound peripheral resistance drop. | Low SVR, low PCWP, high CO are hallmarks. |
| Psoriasis | Vitamin D analogs (Calcipotriol); Topical steroids | T-cell mediated autoimmune process; requires multi-modal therapy. | Treatment is stepwise: topical -> systemic -> biologics. |
| Term | Definition | Context | Example |
| Star-tripod enhancement | Specific pattern of arterial contrast uptake in a liver mass. | CT imaging workup for hepatic masses (HA). | Suggests Hepatic Adenoma, especially if no central scar is present. |
| Centrifugal enhancement | Pattern of contrast uptake radiating outward from the center during arterial phase CT. | CT imaging workup for hepatic masses (FNH). | Pathognomonic finding for Focal Nodular Hyperplasia. |
| Magnesium Sulfate ({MgSO}_4) | Anticonvulsant agent used in obstetrics. | Treatment of eclamptic seizures/severe preeclampsia. | Must be administered immediately upon diagnosis of severe features. |
| Calcipotriol | Synthetic Vitamin D analog. | First-line topical treatment for Psoriasis. | Used topically, unlike calcitriol (which is a systemic vitamin D form). |
| Topic | Study Approach | Priority | Resources |
| Hepatic Masses | Create comparison tables focusing on imaging patterns and clinical associations. | High | Review radiology board questions; compare FNH vs HA criteria side-by-side. |
| Shock States | Draw out the hemodynamic profiles (CO, PCWP, SVR) for all three types of shock. | Critical | Use flowcharts: What is failing? -> Determine CO/PCWP -> Determine compensatory response (SVR). |
| OBGYN Emergencies | Focus on definitions and immediate management steps (e.g., Preeclampsia severity criteria, Ectopic vs Blighted Ovum definition). | High | Practice vignettes; memorize the specific drug doses for MgSO4 and -methasone. |
🚫Mistake 1 (Biliary): Assuming that if a patient has jaundice, it must be cholangitis. Remember, the combination of fever + RUQ pain + Jaundice defines ascending cholangitis/colidocolithiasis; simple jaundice can have other causes.