Cardiology: aortic dissection: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Cardiology: aortic dissection

Sample item

A patient has abrupt tearing chest pain radiating to the back, unequal arm blood pressures, and a new early diastolic murmur. What diagnosis must be presumed?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Acute aortic dissection

Acute aortic dissection can cause abrupt severe chest or back pain, pulse deficits, and acute aortic regurgitation. It requires urgent imaging and specialist management.

Option by option

  • A. Acute aortic dissection (correct)

    Correct. The pain quality, pulse asymmetry, and regurgitation clue are classic.

  • B. Stable angina

    Stable angina is exertional and does not cause pulse deficits.

  • C. Pulmonary edema

    Pulmonary edema causes dyspnea and crackles rather than tearing pain.

  • D. Pericarditis

    Pericarditis causes positional pleuritic pain and diffuse ST elevation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Acute aortic dissection. Acute aortic dissection can cause abrupt severe chest or back pain, pulse deficits, and acute aortic regurgitation.

Why is "Stable angina" not the answer?

Stable angina is exertional and does not cause pulse deficits.

Why is "Pulmonary edema" not the answer?

Pulmonary edema causes dyspnea and crackles rather than tearing pain.

Why is "Pericarditis" not the answer?

Pericarditis causes positional pleuritic pain and diffuse ST elevation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiology: aortic dissection in General Medicine. It requires urgent imaging and specialist management.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cardiology: aortic dissection?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.