A 52-Year-Old Man Comes to the Office Due to Difficulty

question 10

Multiple Choice

A 52-year-old man comes to the office due to difficulty using his left hand.  Over the last year, he has had progressive stiffness at the palm and third and fourth digits, which has led to difficulty doing yard work and typing at his computer.  The patient has tried splints and warm compresses without relief.  He has no history of trauma to the hand and no other musculoskeletal issues.  On examination, the patient has decreased extension at the left third and fourth metacarpophalangeal joints.  Findings of the left hand examination are shown below: Which of the following is most closely associated with this patient's condition?

• A)Acromegaly
• B)Ankylosing spondylitis
• C)Diabetes mellitus
• D)Lung cancer
• E)Psoriasis

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Definitions:

Reversibility

In cognitive development, reversibility refers to the understanding that objects can be changed and then returned back to their original form or condition, a concept introduced by Jean Piaget.

Accommodation

In psychology, the process of modifying existing cognitive schemas, perceptions, or understanding as a result of new information or experiences.

Schema

A cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information from the environment.

Seriation

Seriation is a cognitive skill that involves organizing objects in a sequential order based on a particular attribute, such as size or color.