Second Exam Week Four

Thanks to the help of a few classmates, I came across an understandable metaphor for medical school. It might go down well, but the repercussions can be awful.

Pancakes

Eating pancakes is not normally considered a difficult task and may even be quite enjoyable. Equating five pancakes to a day in school does not seem like much to swallow. From day one you know that is all they ask you to do, eat your five pancakes a day. Things get tough when you decide to put off what you could have done today. As one of my classmates said while preparing for our exams last week, "Eating two weeks worth of pancakes in one night. Can't wait to regurgitate them tomorrow."

It is definitely a feasible task, but along comes all the distractions and enjoyments of life outside of school competing for that pancake eating time. Do we grab a fork or find that comfortable spot in front of the TV? Decisions, decisions... One thing I know for sure, this last week was one of the hardest yet and I couldn't be happier that it is behind me.


Board Prep Question of the Week

A 20-year-old female sees her physician for diarrhea and fatigue with a 20 pound weight loss over the past 6 months. On exam, she is afebrile and has mild muscle wasting, but her strength is normal. Stool studies do not reveal blood, ova, or parasites. A biopsy of the jejunum is taken and microscopically reviewed. The patient is placed on a special diet with no wheat or rye products. The change in diet produces a dramatic improvement. Which of the following microscopic features is most likely to be seen in the biopsy?

A. Crypt abscesses
B. Foamy macrophages within the lamina propria
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Noncaseating granulomas
E. Villous blunting and flattening

Answer & Explanation