Page Contents
OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is von Hippel-Lindau disease. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how von Hippel-Lindau disease will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a traditional question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CONDITION (ON EXAMS)
When it comes to standardized exams, each condition has its own “code” marked by key buzzwords, lab findings, clues, etc. If you are well versed in this code you will be able to more quickly identify the condition that is being discussed, and get the right answer on the exam you are taking. Below is the “code” for von Hippel-Lindau disease.
- Bilateral renal cell carcinoma is classic for this condition
- Hemangioblastomas: retinal, cerebellar are classic
- Angiomatosis
- Pheochromocytoma
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
Explanation # 1
Question # 2
Explanation # 2
TESTABLE FACTS ABOUT THIS CONDITION (BEYOND ITS IDENTIFICATION)
Many questions on standardized exams go beyond simply recognizing the underlying condition. Often there are specific testable facts regarding some aspect of the disease’s pathophysiology/management/clinical implications that are commonly asked. Some of these are listed below:
- Genetic cause: deletion of VHL gene on chromosome 3
- Function of VHL: inhibits hypoxia inducible factor 1a (tumor suppressor gene)
- Mode of inheritance: autosomal dominant
- Associated conditions include: renal cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma
Page Updated: 04.06.2017