USMLE-Rx Step 1 Qmax Challenge #1632

Check out today’s Step 1 Qmax Question Challenge.

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A 74-year-old patient presents with increased shortness of breath. A sputum sample reveals golden-brown beaded fibers, like those shown in the image, which result from iron- and protein-coated fibers. On CT scan, a peripheral lesion abbuting the lungs is visualized. A particular pneumoconiosis is suspected.

Which of the following is the likely cause of the patient’s condition?

A. Autoimmune attack of lung parenchyma
B. Idiopathic (unknown) origin
C. Living for years in a city with polluted air
D. Long-term complication of steroid abuse
E. Reactivation of a contained primary disease
F. Working in a coal mine for 40 years
G. Working in a shipyard for 40 years

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