Mycology/Parasitology USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 34-year-old woman from Brazil presents with fever (38.2°C), multiple ulcerated lesions on her lip and face, and enlarged regional lymph nodes. Vital signs show BP 118/76, HR 92, RR 18, SpO2 98% on room air. Sputum culture demonstrates budding yeast cells with a distinctive "pilot's wheel" appearance from multiple budding scars. Chest X-ray shows no pulmonary infiltrates. She denies immunosuppressive medication use. Which organism is most likely responsible?
Answer choices
- AParacoccidioides brasiliensisCorrect answer
- BCryptococcus neoformans
- CHistoplasma capsulatum
- DCoccidioides immitis
- EBlastomyces dermatitidis
- FCandida albicans
See the full explanation
Get the correct-answer rationale, why each distractor is wrong, the underlying mechanism, and high-yield associations — plus adaptive practice that targets your weak areas — with a free MedBoardPRO account.