Tuberculosis of the bone (Pott’s disease) MCQs

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: September 28, 2024

What is Pott’s disease?
A) Tuberculosis of the lungs
B) Tuberculosis of the bones and joints
C) Tuberculosis of the spine
D) Tuberculosis of the skin
Answer: C) Tuberculosis of the spine

Which part of the spine is most commonly affected by Pott’s disease?
A) Cervical spine
B) Thoracic spine
C) Lumbar spine
D) Sacral spine
Answer: B) Thoracic spine

What is a common symptom of Pott’s disease?
A) Joint swelling
B) Back pain
C) Shortness of breath
D) Skin rash
Answer: B) Back pain

What radiological finding is characteristic of Pott’s disease?
A) Osteophyte formation
B) Compression fractures
C) Vertebral body destruction
D) Scoliosis
Answer: C) Vertebral body destruction

What is the primary causative organism of Pott’s disease?
A) Streptococcus pneumoniae
B) Mycobacterium tuberculosis
C) Staphylococcus aureus
D) Escherichia coli
Answer: B) Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Which diagnostic test is essential for confirming Pott’s disease?
A) X-ray
B) MRI
C) CT scan
D) Tuberculin skin test
Answer: B) MRI

What complication can arise from untreated Pott’s disease?
A) Improved mobility
B) Spinal deformities
C) Decreased infection risk
D) Joint flexibility
Answer: B) Spinal deformities

In patients with Pott’s disease, what type of abscess can develop?
A) Epidural abscess
B) Subdural abscess
C) Intra-articular abscess
D) Cerebral abscess
Answer: A) Epidural abscess

Which demographic is most at risk for developing Pott’s disease?
A) Young athletes
B) Elderly individuals
C) Immunocompromised patients
D) Pregnant women
Answer: C) Immunocompromised patients

What is the standard treatment for Pott’s disease?
A) Surgery only
B) Antibiotics only
C) A combination of antibiotics and surgery
D) Bed rest
Answer: C) A combination of antibiotics and surgery

Which symptom is associated with advanced Pott’s disease?
A) Fever and chills
B) Increased appetite
C) Weight gain
D) Excessive sleep
Answer: A) Fever and chills

What role does the tuberculin skin test play in diagnosing Pott’s disease?
A) It is definitive for diagnosis
B) It indicates exposure to tuberculosis
C) It rules out Pott’s disease
D) It assesses spinal alignment
Answer: B) It indicates exposure to tuberculosis

What imaging technique can help visualize soft tissue involvement in Pott’s disease?
A) X-ray
B) CT scan
C) Ultrasound
D) MRI
Answer: D) MRI

What is a common complication of spinal tuberculosis?
A) Osteoarthritis
B) Kyphosis
C) Scoliosis
D) Bursitis
Answer: B) Kyphosis

What can happen if Pott’s disease is left untreated?
A) Spontaneous recovery
B) Increased physical activity
C) Progression to paraplegia
D) Enhanced bone density
Answer: C) Progression to paraplegia

Which laboratory test is often elevated in Pott’s disease?
A) Complete blood count (CBC)
B) Liver function tests
C) Serum electrolytes
D) Thyroid function tests
Answer: A) Complete blood count (CBC)

Which treatment option is NOT typically used for Pott’s disease?
A) Antitubercular medications
B) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
C) Chemotherapy
D) Surgery
Answer: C) Chemotherapy

What is the primary goal of treatment for Pott’s disease?
A) Pain management
B) Complete eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
C) Prevention of spinal deformities
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

Which of the following is a late complication of Pott’s disease?
A) Localized swelling
B) Spinal instability
C) Fever
D) Headache
Answer: B) Spinal instability

What type of abscess is often associated with Pott’s disease?
A) Periosteal abscess
B) Cold abscess
C) Purulent abscess
D) Fungal abscess
Answer: B) Cold abscess

Which factor can increase the risk of developing Pott’s disease?
A) Good nutrition
B) Poor immune function
C) Regular exercise
D) Healthy lifestyle
Answer: B) Poor immune function

What is the typical duration of antitubercular therapy for Pott’s disease?
A) 1-2 months
B) 3-6 months
C) 6-12 months
D) 12-18 months
Answer: C) 6-12 months

Which symptom is NOT commonly associated with Pott’s disease?
A) Nausea
B) Night sweats
C) Back pain
D) Weight loss
Answer: A) Nausea

What is the role of surgery in Pott’s disease?
A) It is rarely needed
B) It is used only for cosmetic reasons
C) It is required in all cases
D) It can relieve spinal compression or deformities
Answer: D) It can relieve spinal compression or deformities

Which joint can be involved in Pott’s disease?
A) Hip joint
B) Knee joint
C) Shoulder joint
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

What is the mechanism of action of antitubercular drugs used in Pott’s disease?
A) They inhibit protein synthesis
B) They disrupt cell wall synthesis
C) They block DNA synthesis
D) They increase immune response
Answer: B) They disrupt cell wall synthesis

What does the term “gibbus” refer to in Pott’s disease?
A) A type of joint deformity
B) A hunchback deformity due to spinal collapse
C) A specific laboratory finding
D) A surgical procedure
Answer: B) A hunchback deformity due to spinal collapse

Which sign is characteristic of Pott’s disease on physical examination?
A) Tenderness over the abdomen
B) Point tenderness over the affected vertebrae
C) Hyperreflexia in the lower limbs
D) Joint effusion
Answer: B) Point tenderness over the affected vertebrae

Which population is particularly susceptible to Pott’s disease?
A) Healthy adults
B) Immunocompromised individuals
C) Athletes
D) Children
Answer: B) Immunocompromised individuals

Which of the following is a common diagnostic imaging technique for Pott’s disease?
A) Ultrasound
B) CT scan
C) X-ray
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

What is the common presenting complaint in patients with Pott’s disease?
A) Abdominal pain
B) Lower back pain
C) Upper extremity weakness
D) Severe headaches
Answer: B) Lower back pain

What is the significance of a cold abscess in Pott’s disease?
A) It indicates a more severe infection
B) It is a common benign finding
C) It is a surgical emergency
D) It suggests a chronic infection
Answer: D) It suggests a chronic infection

What type of fever is commonly seen in Pott’s disease?
A) Intermittent fever
B) Constant high fever
C) Low-grade fever
D) No fever
Answer: C) Low-grade fever

What is the relationship between Pott’s disease and HIV?
A) HIV increases the risk of developing Pott’s disease
B) Pott’s disease has no relationship with HIV
C) Pott’s disease protects against HIV
D) HIV prevents the progression of Pott’s disease
Answer: A) HIV increases the risk of developing Pott’s disease

Which of the following is a differential diagnosis for Pott’s disease?
A) Osteosarcoma
B) Multiple myeloma
C) Lymphoma
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

Which antitubercular drug is often used in the treatment of Pott’s disease?
A) Ciprofloxacin
B) Isoniazid
C) Amoxicillin
D) Azithromycin
Answer: B) Isoniazid

What is a long-term consequence of untreated Pott’s disease?
A) Increased mobility
B) Bone healing
C) Spinal deformities
D) Improved quality of life
Answer: C) Spinal deformities

How can Pott’s disease affect the neurological system?
A) It does not affect the neurological system
B) By causing neuropathy due to nerve compression
C) By increasing muscle strength
D) By enhancing reflexes
Answer: B) By causing neuropathy due to nerve compression

What type of hypersensitivity reaction is involved in the immune response to tuberculosis?
A) Type I
B) Type II
C) Type III
D) Type IV
Answer: D) Type IV

Which group of patients is most likely to develop Pott’s disease?
A) Adolescents
B) Middle-aged men
C) Elderly women
D) Young children
Answer: B) Middle-aged men

What is the purpose of a biopsy in suspected Pott’s disease?
A) To rule out other infections
B) To obtain a definitive diagnosis
C) To assess treatment response
D) To determine the need for surgery
Answer: B) To obtain a definitive diagnosis

What finding is NOT typical in imaging studies for Pott’s disease?
A) Destruction of vertebrae
B) Formation of new bone
C) Presence of abscess
D) Compression of the spinal cord
Answer: B) Formation of new bone

What is the common term for the curvature of the spine seen in Pott’s disease?
A) Lordosis
B) Scoliosis
C) Kyphosis
D) Rigor
Answer: C) Kyphosis

What demographic is most affected by Pott’s disease?
A) Young adults
B) Infants
C) Older adults
D) All ages equally
Answer: C) Older adults

Which of the following is an important aspect of managing Pott’s disease?
A) Long-term immobilization
B) Regular follow-up and imaging
C) Immediate surgical intervention
D) Use of only topical medications
Answer: B) Regular follow-up and imaging

How does Pott’s disease typically present in children?
A) No symptoms
B) Severe back pain and fever
C) Joint swelling
D) Skin lesions
Answer: B) Severe back pain and fever

Which lifestyle factor is associated with a higher risk of developing Pott’s disease?
A) Regular exercise
B) Poor nutrition
C) High socioeconomic status
D) Regular medical check-ups
Answer: B) Poor nutrition