Inflammatory Bowel Disease USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 65-year-old man with a 12-year history of ulcerative colitis presents with fever (38.5°C), left lower quadrant pain, and nausea. Vital signs show BP 128/76 mmHg, HR 92/min, RR 18/min, and SpO2 98% on room air. CT abdomen demonstrates sigmoid colon wall thickening with pericolic fat stranding and diverticula. Laboratory studies reveal WBC 11,200/μL and CRP 8.2 mg/dL. He denies rectal bleeding. Which diagnosis best explains his acute presentation?
Answer choices
- AUlcerative colitis
- BAcute appendicitis
- CColon cancer
- DMesenteric ischemia
- EDiverticulitisCorrect answer
- FSigmoid volvulus
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