USMLE Forum Archives - USMLE Step 1 - 2846
2846
babbu5508 - 11-26-10 05:04
Autopsy of a 72-year-old man demonstrates the presence of deep venous thrombosis of the legs and multiple acute brain infarcts due to thromboembolic occlusion of penetrating arteries. Which of the following pathologic conditions would most likely account for these findings?
Options:
A. Atherosclerosis of penetrating cerebral arteries
B. Endocarditis of the tricuspid valve
C. Patent foramen ovale
D. Pulmonary thromboembolism
E. Trousseau syndrome
babbu5508 - 11-26-10 05:04
Autopsy of a 72-year-old man demonstrates the presence of deep venous thrombosis of the legs and multiple acute brain infarcts due to thromboembolic occlusion of penetrating arteries. Which of the following pathologic conditions would most likely account for these findings?
Options:
A. Atherosclerosis of penetrating cerebral arteries
B. Endocarditis of the tricuspid valve
C. Patent foramen ovale
D. Pulmonary thromboembolism
E. Trousseau syndrome
The correct answer and explanation will be available after you answer.
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#3
Re: 2846
babbu5508 - 11-26-10 10:28 The correct answer is C. Persistence of patent foramen ovale is found in a significant proportion of healthy subjects. A widely patent foramen ovale may allow emboli originating from the veins in the legs to bypass the pulmonary circulation and reach the systemic arteries, thereby producing infarcts (paradoxical embolism) in the brain as well as in other organs. Interatrial or interventricular defects can have the same effect. None of the other answer choices would explain the development of embolic infarcts in the cerebral parenchyma.
#10
Re: 2846 babbu5508 - 02-01-11 00:04 DVT usually causes pulmonary embolus but the embolus in rare instances can reach brain and other organs through the patent foramen ovale
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