Pathology Mnemonics
Colon
carcinoma: aeitiology CRAPS:
Chronic
ulcerative colitis
Ratio of animal
fat:fibre diet
Adenomatous
polyps
Familial Polyposis
Strong family
history of colon cancer.
Kawasaki Disease
Criteria "Be careful when riding a
Kawasaki
motorcycle, you might get CREAMed.
Conjunctivitis
(non-exudative)
Rash
(polymorphous non-vesicular)
Edema (or
erythema of hands or feet)
Adenopathy
(cervical, often unilateral) Mucosal
involvement (erythema or fissures or crusting) To have Kawasaki disease you
must have fever for greater than 5 days plus
4 of the above.
Neurofibromatoses:
chromosome mutation locations in von Reckinghausen (type I) vs. type II
"von Recklinghausen" has 17 letters and is due to a mutation on
chromosome 17. "Neurofibromatosis type 2" has 22 and is due to a mutation on
chromosome 22.
Wernickes
encephalopathy: components WACO:
· Wernickes is:
Ataxia
Confusion (or
clouded consciousness)
Ocular problems ·
Note: Waco is the town in Texas, USA made famous for a standoff with a
Dav id
Koresh and the Branch Davidians.
Adult Respiratory
Distress Syndrome (ARDS): causes ARDS:
Aspiration/ Acute pancreatitis/ Air embolism/ Amniotic
embolism
Radiation DIC/ Drugs/ Drowning/ Dialysis/ Diff use lung
infection Shock/ Sepsis/ Smoke inhalation
Wiskott-Aldrich
syndrome: symptom triad WASTER:
Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome is:
Thrombocytopenia
Eczema
Recurrent
staphlococcal infections
Cardiovascular risk
factors
(Framingham) FRAMINGHAM:
Family history
Running
(exercise) Adiposity (obesity)
Marlboros
(tobacco)
Insulin
resistance (diabetes)
Non-regulated
lipids (dyslipidaemia)
Georgie Pie
(high fat diet)
Hypertension
Age
Male
Macrocytosis:
Non-B12/folate causes ALPHA NERD:
Alcohol
Liv er disease
Pregnancy
Hemaolysis
(especially chronic)
Agglutination
Neoplasia
(including myelodysplasia)
Endocrine
(hypothyroidism)
Reticulocytes
Drugs
(especially myelosuppressives like chemotherapy, anti-HIV meds)
Osteomyelitis:
complications FIBRES:
Fractures
Intraosseous
(broidie) abscesses
Bacteremi/ Brodie abscess
Reactive
amyloidosis
Endocarditis
Sinus tracts/ Squamous cell CA
Polycystic
ovarian disease: clinical features OHIO:
Oligomenorrhea
Oligomenorrhea
Hirsutism
Infertility
Obesity
Microcytic
anemia: causes "Find Those Small
Cells":
Fe deficiency
Thalassemia
Sideroblastic
Chronic disease
Hirsutism vs. virilism
Hirsutism: Hair on body like a male.
Virilism:
Voice and rest of secondary sexual
characteristics like a male.
Megaloblastic
anemia: vitamin B12 deficiency vs. folate deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency also affects Brain (optic neuropathy, subacute
combined degeneration, paresthesia). · Folate deficiency is not associated with
neurological symptoms.
Symptoms of
TTP/HUS "Nasty Fever Ruined My Tubes":
Neurological
symptoms
Fev er
Renal failure
Microangiopathic
hemolytic anemia Thrombocytopenia
Hemophilia:
type A factor Hemophilia A:
problems with VIII factor (number V as an inv erted A).
Thyroid
carcinoma: frequency "Please
Feel My A$$":
In order of most frequent to least frequent, and in
order from least aggressive to most aggressive: Papillary carcinoma
Follicular
carcinoma
Medullary
thyroid carcinoma Anaplastic
carcinoma Cardiovascular risk factors
FLASH BODIES:
Family history
Lipids
Age
Sex
Homocy stinaemia
Blood pressure
Obesity
Diabetes
mellitus Inflammation (raised CRP)/ Increased thrombosis Exercise
Smoking
Hypokalaemia:
clinical features TIMID CHIMP: Tetany
Increases
paralytic ileus (aggravates)
Muscle weakness
Increases
possibility of hepatic encephalopathy Digoxin
toxicity
Cardiac
arrythmias
Hy potonia
Increases
P-R interval, T wave and prominent U wave Muscle
cramps Poly uria
Diabetes: short list
of complications SHAKE:
Stroke
Heart attack
Amputations
Kidney disease
Ey es (vision
loss)
Nephritic syndrome:
glomerular diseases commonly presenting as nephritic syndrome PARIS:
Post-streptococcal
Alport's
RPGN
IgA nephropathy
SLE
· Alternatively: PIG
ARMS to include Goodpasture's
[one cause of RPGN], Membranoproliferative
[only sometimes included in the classic nephritic list].
Osteosarcoma:
features PEARL HARBOR:
Paget's disease
(10-20%)*
Early age (10-20
yrs)
Around knee
Raised periosteum
by expanding tumor: "sunburst
pattern" Lace-like
architecture
Hy aline
arteoriosclerosis
Alkaline
phosphatase increased
Retinoblastoma*
Boy s,
predominantly
Osteomyelitis
DDx
Radiation* ·
Sunburst pattern was Japanese Navy emblem during WWII.
*: Predisposing factors.
Edwards' syndrome: characteristics
EDWARDS:
Eighteen
(trisomy)
Digit ov
erlapping flexion
Wide head
Absent intellect
(mentally retarded)
Rocker-bottom
feet
Diseased heart
Small lower jaw
Fragile X
syndrome: features FEMALES
FMR1 gene
Exhibits
anticpation
Macro-orchidism
Autism
Long face with
large jaw
Ev erted eyes Second most common casue of genetic
mental retardation
Achalasia: 1
possible cause, 1 treatment aCHAlasia:
1 possible cause: CHAgas'
disease
1 treatment: Ca++ CHAnnel
blockers
Anemia: TIBC finding
to differentiate iron deficiency vs.
chronic disease
TIBC lev els at the:
Top=Iron deficiency.
Bottom=Chronic disease.
Colon cancer: risk
factors HULA:
Heridity/ Heriditary diseases
Ulcerative
colitis
Low fibre, high
fat diet Adenomatous polyps
COPD: blue bloater
vs. pink puffer diseases emPhysema
has letter P (and not B) so Pink Puffer. chronic Bronchitis
has letter B (and not P) so Blue Bloater.
Macrocytic anaemia:
differential FAT RBC:
Fetus
(pregnancy)
Alcohol
Thyroid
disease(ie hypothyroidism)
Reticulocytosis
B12 and folate
deficiency
Cirrhosis and
chronic liver disease
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