USMLE Disease Reviews

High-yield, single-condition reviews for the USMLE — the presentation, the mechanism, the workup, management, and the buzzwords that show up on exam day.

• Acromegaly: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewAcromegaly is caused by a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma in adults, producing acral and soft-tissue overgrowth. Review its mechanism, diagnostic pathway, and management for the USMLE.
• Acute Pancreatitis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewAcute pancreatitis is acute inflammation of the pancreas with a systemic inflammatory response, classically presenting with severe epigastric pain radiating to the back and markedly elevated lipase. High-yield review for USMLE.
• Anemia of Chronic Disease: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewAnemia of chronic disease (anemia of inflammation): the classic pattern of low serum iron, low TIBC, and high ferritin driven by hepcidin, with a blunted EPO response. A USMLE review.
• Angioedema: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewAngioedema for the USMLE: separate IgE-mediated (Type I) swelling from bradykinin-mediated causes—ACE inhibitors and hereditary/acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency—recognize the airway threat, and master the drug and complement associations examiners love to test.
• Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder): High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): the hallmark of excessive, uncontrollable worry for ≥6 months, SSRI first-line treatment, and the dangerous trap of attributing organic disease to "anxiety."
• Aortic Aneurysm: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of aortic aneurysm — the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), its rupture triad of hypotension, back pain, and pulsatile mass, size thresholds for repair, screening, and surgical management.
• Aortic Dissection: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewAortic dissection is a vascular emergency defined by an intimal tear and false lumen, presenting with sudden tearing chest pain radiating to the back and a blood pressure differential between arms.
• Aortic Valve Stenosis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewAortic valve stenosis (AS) is fixed obstruction to LV outflow producing the classic triad of angina, syncope, and heart failure. Master its pathophysiology, echo workup, and the surgical pivot for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
• Asthma: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of asthma: Th2-mediated reversible airway obstruction with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Covers pathophysiology, spirometry, GINA management, and the ominous silent chest.
• Atrial Fibrillation: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of atrial fibrillation: the irregularly irregular arrhythmia driven by atrial dilation, causing palpitations, embolic stroke, and requiring rate control plus anticoagulation.
• Bipolar Disorder: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of bipolar disorder, defined by mania (Bipolar I) or hypomania (Bipolar II). Covers presentation, workup, mood stabilizer treatment, and the critical trap of antidepressant-induced mania.
• Bronchiectasis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewBronchiectasis is permanent, abnormal dilation of the bronchi driven by a vicious cycle of infection and inflammation, presenting with chronic productive cough and the CT signet ring sign.
• Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke): A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of cerebrovascular accident (stroke): sudden focal neurological deficits, vascular territory syndromes, and the time-critical pathway of CT to rule out hemorrhage, IV thrombolysis, and thrombectomy.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): a largely irreversible airflow limitation from emphysema and chronic bronchitis, with FEV1/FVC < 0.70, GOLD staging, and mechanism-based management.
• Dementia: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of dementia: the amnestic cortical decline of Alzheimer's, the stepwise course of vascular dementia, behavioral FTD, and reversible mimics you must exclude.
• Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of familial hypercholesterolemia: autosomal dominant LDL receptor pathway defects causing markedly elevated LDL, tendon xanthomas, and premature coronary artery disease.
• Folic Acid Deficiency: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewFolic acid (B9) deficiency causes megaloblastic macrocytic anemia with hypersegmented neutrophils and oval macrocytes but NO neurologic deficits — the key contrast with B12 deficiency for the USMLE.
• G6PD Deficiency: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewG6PD deficiency is the most common enzymopathy worldwide, causing episodic oxidative hemolysis with bite cells and Heinz bodies after drugs, fava beans, or infection. USMLE review of mechanism, presentation, and workup.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A High-Yield USMLE ReviewGERD is the most common esophageal disorder, driven by failure of the lower esophageal sphincter barrier. Review its pathophysiology, presentation, workup, and management.
• Glomerulonephritis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewGlomerulonephritis is inflammatory glomerular injury marked by dysmorphic RBCs and RBC casts. Review its mechanisms, presentation, workup, and management for the USMLE.
• Granuloma: A High-Yield USMLE Pathology & Immunology ReviewGranuloma review for USMLE: epithelioid macrophages and giant cells walling off an indigestible antigen, the caseating vs. non-caseating discriminator, and TNF-α's role in granuloma maintenance.
• Graves' Disease: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewGraves' disease is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism and the only one with ophthalmopathy. Review TSI-driven pathophysiology, presentation, RAIU, and treatment for the USMLE.
• Heart Failure: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewHeart failure is a clinical syndrome of impaired cardiac output and congestion driven by maladaptive neurohormonal activation. Review its pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and evidence-based management.
• Hemolytic Anemia: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewHemolytic anemia — accelerated red cell destruction marked by reticulocytosis, elevated LDH and indirect bilirubin, and low haptoglobin. Review the causes, workup, and management for the USMLE.
• Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewHemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a toxin-mediated triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury classically following E. coli O157:H7 enterocolitis.
• Hemophilia A: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewHemophilia A is an X-linked recessive factor VIII deficiency whose hallmark is hemarthrosis with an isolated prolonged PTT that corrects on mixing study. Review its mechanism, workup, and management.
• Hepatitis B: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of Hepatitis B: serologic interpretation including the window period, transmission, chronicity by age, cirrhosis and HCC risk, and antiviral management.
• Herpes Zoster (Shingles): A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of herpes zoster (shingles): reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, painful dermatomal vesicular rash, Ramsay Hunt and ophthalmic zoster, PCR confirmation, antivirals within 72 hours, postherpetic neuralgia, and Shingrix vaccination.
• Hyperparathyroidism: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewHyperparathyroidism for the USMLE: primary disease with high calcium, high PTH, and low phosphorus. Master the PTH branch point, FHH mimics, secondary and tertiary forms, and management.
• Hypertension: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of hypertension: the mechanism of pressure overload, concentric hypertrophy, hypertensive emergency with end-organ damage, secondary causes like coarctation, and its role in ACS, dissection, and HFpEF.
• Hyperthyroidism: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of hyperthyroidism: suppressed TSH with elevated free T4/T3, the role of radioactive iodine uptake, Graves' disease, thyroid storm, and management with antithyroid drugs and beta-blockers.
• Hypoglycemia: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewHypoglycemia for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK: causes from fatty acid oxidation defects to sulfonylureas, the critical sample, and why it hides behind vague symptoms.
• Inflammation: A High-Yield USMLE Pathology ReviewUSMLE review of inflammation—the body's response to injury. Covers the acute vascular-cellular sequence, Celsus cardinal signs, chronic and granulomatous patterns, hepcidin/IL-6, and acute-phase reactant pitfalls.
• Leukemia: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewLeukemia is malignant clonal proliferation of blood-forming cells, classified by cell type (lymphoid vs myeloid) and acuity. Master AML Auer rods, CLL smudge cells, and CML's Philadelphia chromosome.
• Liver Cirrhosis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewLiver cirrhosis is the end-stage of chronic liver injury marked by diffuse fibrosis and regenerative nodules. Review its portal hypertension complications, diagnosis, and management for the USMLE.
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): DSM-5 SIG E CAPS diagnosis requiring ≥5 of 9 symptoms for ≥2 weeks, SSRIs as first-line treatment, suicide risk assessment, and the critical need to screen for mania before starting antidepressants.
• Malignant Neoplasm of Breast: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of breast cancer: invasive ductal carcinoma, Nottingham grade, TNM stage, and the ER/PR/HER2/Ki-67 biomarkers that drive prognosis and targeted therapy.
• Malignant Neoplasm of Prostate: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of malignant neoplasm of the prostate: the asymmetric firm DRE nodule, PSA screening versus diagnosis, biopsy confirmation, Gleason/grade group risk stratification, and the Bayesian reasoning that drives management.
• Metabolic Acidosis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewMetabolic acidosis for the USMLE: low pH and low bicarbonate with respiratory compensation, the anion gap and MUDPILES, Kussmaul breathing, and delta-delta reasoning.
• Metabolic Syndrome X: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewMetabolic syndrome (syndrome X) is a cluster of insulin-resistance-driven abnormalities—central obesity, hypertension, high triglycerides, low HDL, and hyperglycemia—that flags high cardiovascular risk. A USMLE review of its criteria, pathophysiology, and management.
• Multiple Sclerosis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating CNS disease defined by dissemination in space and time. Review its pathophysiology, optic neuritis, MRI/CSF findings, and management.
• Myocardial Infarction: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewMyocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI) for the USMLE: recognizing STEMI equivalents, rising troponin, reperfusion timing, and antiplatelet therapy. Master the acute coronary syndrome workup and management.
• Neutropenia: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewNeutropenia (ANC <1,500/µL) leaves patients unable to fight bacterial infection. Review its causes, febrile neutropenia as an emergency, and USMLE-tested drug culprits and management.
• Pancreatitis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of acute pancreatitis: epigastric pain radiating to the back, elevated lipase, and the 2-of-3 diagnostic criteria — plus pathophysiology, management, and the step-up approach to infected necrosis.
• Parkinson's Disease: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewParkinson's disease for the USMLE: asymmetric resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, and bradykinesia driven by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra with Lewy bodies.
• Pericarditis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewPericarditis for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK: persistent pleuritic chest pain relieved by leaning forward, pericardial friction rub, and diffuse ST elevation with PR depression.
• Peritonitis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewPeritonitis for USMLE — from perforation-driven secondary peritonitis with a board-like rigid abdomen and free air under the diaphragm to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic ascites diagnosed by PMN count on paracentesis.
• Pheochromocytoma: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewPheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting adrenal medullary tumor causing paroxysmal hypertension, headache, sweating, and palpitations. Master the 4 P's, the rule of 10s, and why alpha-blockade must precede beta-blockade.
• Pituitary Adenoma: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewMaster pituitary adenoma for the USMLE: hormonal syndromes, mass effect with bitemporal hemianopia, prolactinoma management, Cushing's localization, and apoplexy.
• Pleural Effusion: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewPleural effusion for the USMLE: master Light's criteria distinguishing transudate from exudate, thoracentesis findings, the classic dull-to-percussion exam, and cause-directed management.
• Pneumothorax: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewPneumothorax for USMLE: sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain with hyperresonance and decreased breath sounds. Master tension pneumothorax, its clinical diagnosis, and management.
• Prolactinoma: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewProlactinoma is a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma causing amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and infertility. Learn its mechanism, the prolactin-tumor size rule, hook effect, and dopamine agonist therapy.
• Pulmonary Edema: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewPulmonary edema is fluid accumulation in the lungs causing acute dyspnea, bilateral crackles, and pink frothy sputum. Review cardiogenic vs noncardiogenic mechanisms, workup, and management for the USMLE.
• Pulmonary Embolism: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of pulmonary embolism (PE): the great mimic causing hypoxemia with clear lungs. Covers presentation, Wells/D-dimer/CTPA workup, risk stratification, and anticoagulation.
• Sarcoidosis: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewSarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease defined by non-caseating granulomas, bilateral hilar adenopathy, and multi-organ involvement. Master its pathophysiology, workup, and management for the USMLE.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewSensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) arises from cochlea or CN VIII pathology. Review the Weber/Rinne pattern, key causes like Ménière's and vestibular schwannoma, and when MRI is mandatory.
• Sepsis and Septic Shock: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of sepsis and septic shock: the Sepsis-3 definitions, Surviving Sepsis bundle, lactate, vasopressor-dependent hypotension, host-specific pathogens, and the neonatal fever trap.
• Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: autoimmune insulin deficiency, diabetic ketoacidosis, the potassium paradox, associated autoimmune disorders, and intensive insulin management.
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewType 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease of insulin resistance and vascular injury. Review its pathophysiology, diagnosis, complications, and cardiorenal-protective management for the USMLE.
• Urinary Tract Infection: A High-Yield USMLE ReviewUSMLE review of urinary tract infection (UTI): a common infection spanning cystitis to pyelonephritis and urosepsis — with high-yield presentation, causative organisms, diagnostic criteria, antibiotic management, and pitfalls.
• What Is a Syndrome? Clinical Reasoning for the USMLEA syndrome is a recognizable cluster of signs and symptoms that hang together but do not name a single cause. Learn how to recognize the cluster, meet the threshold, and pursue the underlying etiology on the USMLE.