Relevant terms and definitions: 1. Tympanogram: plots compliance changes of the Tympanic Membrane (TM) versus air pressure in the EAC Y-axis shows pressure gradient and X-axis shows compliance change 2. Peak: point on the tympanogram that represents the point of maximum compliance, in which pressure of the external ear canal equals the pressure of the…
Category: PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Medical knowledge in bullet points with understandable language, simplified images and graspable mnemonics.

Pure Tone Audiogram and Interpretation
Relevant terms and definitions: 1. Pure tone: A single frequency sound 2. Audiometer: Equipment used to generate pure tones of varying frequency and loudness and control their presentation 3. Air conduction (AC) threshold: lowest level dB HL (hearing threshold) at which the subject perceives 50% of pure tones introduced via earphones or speakers…

Acute Rhinosinusitis (ARS) : Clinical Guidelines
Definition: Symptomatic inflammation of the lining mucosa of nose and paranasal sinuses. Uncomplicated rhinosinusitis is defined as rhinosinusitis without clinically evident extension of inflammation outside the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity at the time of diagnosis (eg, no neurologic, ophthalmologic, or soft tissue involvement). Types: Based on duration Acute Rhinosinusitis (ARS):…

Pediatric Xrays : Test I
As you have already read Systematic way of Reading Chest Xrays and few other xray lessons in epomedicine classes. Here is you first Skill test. We will give you few case scenarios and Xray and you need to answer the following. Self Assessment Test: I. A neonate on Mechanical ventilator needing…

Chest Xray – Approach to hilum
Hilum in human anatomy refers to the depression where structures such as blood vessels and nerves enter an organ. The structures contributing to hilar shadows in a Chest X-ray are: Major: Pulmonary artery and veins Minor: Fat, Lymph nodes and Bronchial walls Normal Hilum: Position: Left hilum is slightly higher…

Chest X-ray – Pleural Effusion
Pleura is a mesothelial lined sac that envelopes the lungs and comprises of 2 membranous walls i.e. visceral pleura and parietal pleura that encloses pleural space filled with pleural fluid. Pleural space contains about 0.3 ml/kg body weight of pleural fluid. The pleura is not visible on a normal CXR…

Chest X-ray: Alveolar vs Interstitial Disease
Interstitium is the scaffolding that supports the alveolar walls and surrounds both the alveoli and the terminal bronchioles. Neither alveoli nor interstitium is visible on a chest X-ray when normal. It is necessary to analyze whether the pattern of diffuse opacification in the lung field is alveolar or interstitial. Terms:…

Systematic Approach to Frontal Chest X-ray
To make an appropriate diagnosis through a chest radiograph, it must be analyzed in a systematic manner. One of the common mistakes that students do is to miss the regions that needs to be looked for – commonest being the rib fractures. A mnemonic has been devised for this purpose:…