Pathology Mnemonics

Portal hypertension: features

ABCDE:
Ascites
Bleeding (haematemesis, piles)
Caput medusae
Diminished
liver
Enlarged spleen

WBC Count:

"Nobody Likes My Educational Background"

"60, 30, 6, 3, 1"

Neutrophils 60%
Lymphocytes 30%Monocytes 6%
Eosinophils 3%
Basophils 1%

Diabetic ketoacidosis: I vs. II
ketONE bodies are seen in type ONE diabetes.

MHC I and MHC II: T cell type
'MHC x T cell=8'
•    MHC II goes with CD4  (2x4=8)
•    MHC I goes with CD8   (1x8=8)

Renal failure (chronic): consequences
ABCDEFG:
Anemia
-due to less EPO
Bone alterations
-osteomalacia
-osteoporosis
-von Recklinghausen
Cardiopulmonary
-atherosclerosis
-CHF
-hypertension
-pericarditis
D vitamin loss
Electrolyte imbalance
-sodium loss/gain
-metabolic acidosis
-hyperkalemia
Feverous infections
-due to leukocyte abnormalities and dialysis hazards
GI disturbances
-haemorrhagic gastritis
-peptic ulcer disease
-intractable hiccups

Hypertension: secondary hypertension causes
CHAPS:
Cushing's syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism [aka Conn's syndrome]
Aorta coarctation
Phaeochromocytoma
Stenosis of renal arteries
• Note: only 5% of hypertension cases are secondary, rest are primary

Hypercalcemia: symptoms of elevated serum levels
 "Bones, Stones, Groans, Moans":
Bones: pain in bones
Stones: renal
Groans: pain
Psychic moans/ Psychological overtones: confused state

Acute ischemia: signs [especially limbs]
6 P's:
Pain
Pallor
Pulselessness
Paralysis
Paraesthesia
Perishingly cold

Heart failure causes
"HEART MAy DIE":
Hypertension
Embolism
Anemia
Rheumatic heart disease
Thyrotoxicosis (incl. pregnancy)
Myocardial infarct
Arrythmia
Y
Diet & lifestyle
Infection
Endocarditis

Liver failure (chronic): signs found on the arms
 CLAPS:
Clubbing
Leukonychia
Asterixis
Palmar erythema
Scratch marks

Constipation: causes
 DOPED:
Drugs (eg opiates)
Obstruction (eg IBD, cancer)
Pain
Endocrine (eg hypothyroid)
Depression

Splenomegaly: causes
CHIMP:
Cysts
Haematological ( eg CML, myelofibrosis)
Infective (eg viral (IM), bacterial)
Metabolic/ Misc (eg amyloid, Gauchers)
Portal hypertension

Leukemias: acute vs. chronic rules of thumb
ABCDE:
Acute is:
Blasts predominate
Children
Drastic course
Elderly
Few WBC's (so Fevers)
• Chronic is all the opposites:
Mature cells predominate
Middle aged
Less debilitating course
Elevated WBC's, so not a history of fevers and infections

Gout: factors that can precipitate an attack of acute gouty arthritis
DARK:
Diuretics
Alcohol
Renal disease
Kicked (trauma)
• And, the attack occurs most often at night [thus "dark"].

Causes of membrane over tonsils (shared by Taishan Medical University)

“I L(ove) MADAM TV”
I- Infectious Mononucleosis
L(ove)- Leukemias

M- Malignancy
A- Agranulocytosis
D- Diphtheria
A- Aphthous ulcers
M- Membranous tonsillitis

T- Trauma
V- Vincent’s angina

Parkinson's disease: symptoms
PQRST:
Paucity of expression
parQinson
Rigidity (cogwheel)
Stooped posture
Tremor at rest

Posted in: mnemonics