A 34-Year-Old Woman Is Evaluated for Several Months of Moderate

question 135

Multiple Choice

A 34-year-old woman is evaluated for several months of moderate hearing loss.  She has also noticed a ringing in her left ear.  The patient has had no recent ear infections or cold symptoms, does not use cotton ear swabs, and has no history of head trauma.  Her father has bilateral hearing loss attributed to old age.  On physical examination, the auditory canals are patent and tympanic membranes appear gray with a well-visualized light reflex.  Hearing is diminished on the left side.  Neurologic examination shows left-sided facial numbness, an asymmetric smile, and diminished corneal reflex response in the left eye.  This patient's condition suggests an intracranial mass in which of the following locations?

• A)Above the sellar diaphragm
• B)Adjacent to the sagittal sinus
• C)Between the cerebellum and lateral pons
• D)In the dorsal midbrain
• E)Over the lateral cerebral convexity

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Definitions:

Bipolar II

A subtype of bipolar disorder characterized by patterns of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes of Bipolar I.

Major Depressive

A mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive sadness or loss of interest in activities, accompanied by additional psychological symptoms.

Persistent Depressive

A chronic form of depression marked by a long-term, continuous presence of sad or empty mood, also known as dysthymia.

Splitting

A cognitive distortion where one views people or situations as entirely good or entirely bad, with no middle ground.