USMLE Step 2 Success

For a patient who presents with wrist drop and numbness on the back of the hand, what nerve is involved? In Saturday night palsy, which nerve is involved? What is the diagnosis in a patient presenting with a unilateral infrascapular localized area of pruritus? For a patient with numbness and tingling of the fourth and fifth digits, what nerve is involved?

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What is the correct diagnosis in this 60-year-old homeless man with a rash and irritability? What is the most likely diagnosis in this patient who presents with fatigue and newly diagnosed diabetes? What is the next best test for a 24-year-old patient who presents with a normocytic anemia?

In this patient with confusion and ataxia: What is the next best step in management? What are the risk factors for this condition? What is the most likely diagnosis in this 70 year old patient with fatigue, leg pain, and bruising? What is the best treatment? What are the risk factors for this condition?

When a patient presents with secondary amenorrhea, what is the differential diagnosis? What is the recommended testing for patients with suspected functional hypothalamic amenorrhea? For a suspected pituitary adenoma? For suspected PCOS? What are other potential causes outside of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis?

Autonomy is one of the four major medical ethical principles, and it’s important to understand how physicians must respect patient autonomy, as well as understand the situations in which other considerations override patient autonomy. What is the definition of capacity? How do you determine capacity? In cases of elder abuse, should you breach patient confidentiality? In cases of domestic abuse, should you breach patient confidentiality? How does the principle of autonomy apply to a minor patient?

These five cases demonstrate important medical ethics principles. When would you breach patient confidentiality? When would you honor patient autonomy over beneficence? What are advanced directives and living wills? What is the principle of determining last known wishes, and if those are not known, how do you proceed? What procedures are covered by a do not resuscitate order?

In these 7 cases, you'll learn about the potential harms of dietary supplements. What supplement would cause a physician to miss the diagnosis of myocardial infarction? Which supplements interfere with the CYP450 system and may lead to drug interactions? Which supplement raises the risk of falls? What are the risks posed by long-term use of anticholinergic medications? 

In these 4 cases of patients who present with genital ulcers or lymphadenopathy, what is the most likely diagnosis? What is the next step in management? What are the causes of false positive RPRs? When is the FTA used? What is the best treatment for secondary syphilis? What is the best treatment for secondary syphilis in a pregnant woman who is allergic to penicillin? What is the best treatment for chancroid, for lymphogranuloma venereum, and for genital herpes? 

A 75-year-old woman with diabetes presents with fatigue, pallor, poor balance, and a complaint of a "pins and needles" sensation of her hands and feet. On initial laboratory testing, you determine that she has a macrocytic anemia. How can you distinguish between alcoholism and folate deficiency? How can you distinguish between vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency?  Name three medications and three medical or surgical causes of vitamin B12 deficiency. What is the most common neurologic finding and what is a classic neurologic finding of vitamin B12 deficiency?

What antihypertensive medication would you use in a patient with no medical comorbidities? What would you prescribe in a patient with benign prostatic hypertrophy? This episode also includes an overview of the pathophysiology and pharmacology behind the treatment of hypertension. 

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

On this episode, we’re presenting 8 different clinical scenarios of hypertension. For each case, what is the best anti-hypertensive therapy?  

What is the best treatment for a patient with hypertension and proteinuria? What is the best initial treatment for a patient with essential hypertension? What is the best anti-hypertensive after an MI? For a patient with osteoporosis? For a patient with diabetes? For a patient who is pregnant? For a patient with hyperthyroidism? 

In this episode, learn the names and indications for beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and lifestyle modification.

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

What are the most common causes of kidney stones? For each type, what is the best treatment? 

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

A 35 year-old man presents with back, flank, and abdominal pain. What is the most likely diagnosis? What is the next best step?

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

Your patient presents with facial pain and nasal discharge. What is the next best step? What is the most likely causative agent, and what is the best treatment?

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

In this 55 year old man with chest pain, what is the most likely diagnosis? What is the best next step? 

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

In this 75 year old woman with headache and muscle weakness, what is the most likely diagnosis? What is the next best step? What is the best treatment?

On this episode, we’re presenting 8 different clinical scenarios and asking: Is this cellulitis? If so, what is the most likely pathogen? What is the best treatment? If not cellulitis, what is the most likely cause? 

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

A 65 year old man presents with leg pain. What is the most likely diagnosis? What is the next best step?

Your patient presents with severe scrotal pain. What is the most likely diagnosis? What is the next best step?

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

A patient presents with a thyroid nodule. What is the best initial test? What are other causes of thyroid nodules? 

For a free 100+ page excerpt of our best-selling residency match book, please visit us at www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com.

Your 30-year-old friend reports fatigue and weight gain. What is the most likely diagnosis? What is the best initial treatment? What is the next appropriate step if she does not experience improvement in 4 weeks? For patients resistant to treatment, what would you recommend? What is the best treatment if this patient were experiencing chronic pain?

A 45 year old woman presents with wrist pain and hypertension. What is the most likely diagnosis in this patient? What are the potential causes? What is the best initial test? 

A 50 year old woman presents with a chief complaint of feeling tired and weak. What is the most likely diagnosis? What is the best initial test? What other conditions are in the differential diagnosis? What other testing would be recommended for this patient?

Welcome to the pilot episode of the Step 2 Success podcast, also known as the "Q Bank podcast", where we use clinical cases with targeted teaching points to help you study for the USMLE Step 2 clinical knowledge exam. We're your hosts, Drs. Rajani Katta and Samir Desai, authors of The Successful Match and Success on the Wards. We've worked with hundreds of medical students and IMGs (international medical graduates) to help them achieve success in the residency match. As the USMLE Step 1 exam moves to a pass fail scoring system, the Step 2 exam three-digit numerical score will only increase in importance. Please visit us at our website www.TheSuccessfulMatch.com to receive a free 100-page excerpt of our book.