Question

A 70-year-old male presents with acute onset back pain for one hour. His past medical history includes coronary artery disease, for which he has undergone a coronary artery bypass grafting , 3 times, two years ago. He also has hypertension, and has smoked a pack of cigarettes per day for fifty years. His physical exam includes a BP of 80/76 mm Hg, pulse of 116/min, and has a palpable infraumbilical pulsatile abdominal mass with left lower quadrant fullness. What is the best diagnostic test to use in the diagnosis of this patient's condition?

1. Computed Tomography(CT)
2. Aortogram
3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)
4. Venogram
5. Abdominal x-ray

Answer 1

The best diagnostic test for this patient's condition would be a CT scan, which can construct detailed X-ray images to assess the presence of any abnormalities or pathologies in the abdominal organs. A CT scan would provide a more detailed view of the abdominal anatomy, including the aorta, and can help identify any potential aortic pathology, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which can cause acute back pain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best diagnostic test to use in the diagnosis of this patient's condition would be a Computed Tomography (CT) scan.

A CT scan can construct detailed X-ray images of the abdominal organs, allowing healthcare providers to visualize and assess the presence of any abnormalities or pathologies. In this case, the patient's physical exam findings, including a palpable infraumbilical pulsatile abdominal mass with left lower quadrant fullness, suggest a potential abdominal pathology, possibly involving the aorta.

A CT scan would provide a more detailed view of the abdominal anatomy, including the aorta, and can help identify any potential aortic pathology, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which can cause acute back pain. Therefore, a CT scan would be the most appropriate test for this patient.