Here is a list of the common long case topics that have appeared in previous exams. Use this as a guideline for your practice sessions.

For a list of recommended books for the clinical exam, please view our online bookstore.

I recommend you use the mnemonic CAST ICE to help outline your management plan for any case.

Cardiology:

Ischaemic heart disease
Infective Endocarditis
Congestive cardiac failure
Hypertension
Atrial fibrillation
Heart Transplant

Common symptom: chest pain, fatigue.

Respiratory:

Bronchiectasis
COPD
Asthma
Interstitial lung disease
Obstructive sleep apnea
Lung cancer
Pulmonary Hypertension
Tuberculosis
Sarcoidosis
Cystic fibrosis

Common symptom: cough, fever, dyspnea, edema, wheezing.

Gastrointestinal:

Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
Peptic ulcer disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Malabsorption
Liver transplant
Hepatitis C
Hemochromatosis
Colorectal carcinoma

Common symptom: abdominal pain, diarrhea, GI bleeding,

Hematology:

Chronic myeloid leukemia
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Hodgkins Lymphoma
Anemia
Bone marrow transplant
Myelofibrosis
Polycythemia
Multiple myeloma

Common symptom: weight loss.

Rheumatology:

Rheumatoid arthritis
SLE
Systemic sclerosis
Vasculitis
Osteoarthritis

Common symptom: back pain, joint pain.

Endocrine:

Osteoporosis
Diabetes
Pagets

Renal:

Chronic renal failure
Renal transplant

Common symptom: acute renal failure.

Neurology:

Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy
TIA and funny turns.
common symptom: headache,dizziness

Infectious Diseases:
HIV/AIDS

 

Common long case issues:
– Transplant: drugs side effects/complications.
– steroid complications
– Management of Obesity.
– Non compliance.
– Smoking cessation.
– Contraception and fertility in medical patients on long term meds.
– Warfarin: use and reversal
– Erectile dysfunction and IHD.
– Management of insomnia
– Complications of chemotherapy.
– Management of depression.
– Alcohol abuse/dependence