Vascular surgery: Adson test: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Vascular surgery: Adson test

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has tingling over the medial forearm and hand when she raises her arm. When she extends the neck, rotates the head to the affected side and inhales deeply, the radial pulse on that side diminishes. Which condition does this test suggest?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Thoracic outlet syndrome

Adson test checks for compression of the subclavian artery in the scalene triangle. A reduction or loss of the radial pulse on neck extension, head rotation and deep inspiration supports thoracic outlet syndrome from a cervical rib or fibrous band, which also compresses the lower trunk of the brachial plexus.

Option by option

  • A. Thoracic outlet syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Pulse loss on Adson manoeuvre suggests compression in the thoracic outlet.

  • B. Cervical disc prolapse

    A cervical disc causes radiculopathy that does not reduce the radial pulse.

  • C. Subclavian steal syndrome

    Subclavian steal causes arm claudication and a blood pressure difference with vertebrobasilar symptoms.

  • D. Carpal tunnel syndrome

    Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve at the wrist without any change in the radial pulse.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Thoracic outlet syndrome. Adson test checks for compression of the subclavian artery in the scalene triangle.

Why is "Cervical disc prolapse" not the answer?

A cervical disc causes radiculopathy that does not reduce the radial pulse.

Why is "Subclavian steal syndrome" not the answer?

Subclavian steal causes arm claudication and a blood pressure difference with vertebrobasilar symptoms.

Why is "Carpal tunnel syndrome" not the answer?

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve at the wrist without any change in the radial pulse.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular surgery: Adson test in General Surgery. A reduction or loss of the radial pulse on neck extension, head rotation and deep inspiration supports thoracic outlet syndrome from a cervical rib or fibrous band, which also compresses the lower trunk of the brachial plexus.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vascular surgery: Adson test?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.