Vascular Disease USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 62-year-old man with a 40-pack-year smoking history presents with sudden-onset severe tearing back pain radiating to the anterior chest. Vital signs show BP 180/110 mmHg (right arm) and 140/95 mmHg (left arm), HR 102 bpm, RR 18, and SpO2 98% on room air. CXR demonstrates a widened mediastinum with left-sided pleural effusion. ECG shows normal ST segments. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer choices
- APulmonary embolism
- BSpontaneous pneumothorax
- CAcute aortic dissectionCorrect answer
- DAortic atherosclerosis
- EAcute myocardial infarction
- FTension pneumomediastinum
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