Question

A 70-year-old man with a history of chronic constipation presents to the emergency department with a two-day history of left lower quadrant abdominal pain. He is found to have a temperature of 100.8F, BP 140/90, HR 85, and RR 16. On physical examination, he is tender to light palpation in the left lower quadrant and exhibits voluntary guarding. Rectal examination reveals heme-positive stool. Laboratory values are unremarkable except for a WBC count of 12,500 with a left shift. Which of the following tests would be most useful in the diagnosis of this patient's disease?

a. Abdominal x-ray
b. Lipase
c. Abdominal CT
d. Left lower quadrant ultrasound
e. Emergent colonoscopy

Answer 1

The most useful test in the diagnosis of this patient's disease would be Abdominal CT, which can provide detailed images of the abdominal organs to identify any abnormalities or causes of the symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most useful test in the diagnosis of this patient's disease would be Abdominal CT. Abdominal CT scans are an imaging technique that can provide detailed images of the abdominal organs, including the intestines, to help identify any abnormalities or causes of the symptoms.

In this case, the patient's symptoms, such as left lower quadrant abdominal pain, heme-positive stool, and an elevated WBC count with a left shift, suggest the possibility of diverticulitis, which can be confirmed or ruled out by an abdominal CT scan.