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.

• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.