Articles
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More than 200 results
Article
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (mnemonic)
Clinical diagnosis requires the presence of at least two criteria to confirm the presence of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) 1.
These diagnostic criteria can be remembered with the mnemonic:
CAFE SPOT
Mnemonic
C: café-au-lait spots (greater than six seen during one year)
A: axillary or ingui...
Article
UTI-causing microorganisms (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the commonest micro-organisms responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs) is:
KEEPS
Mnemonic
K: Klebsiella spp.
E: Enterococcus faecalis / Enterobacter cloacae
E: Escherichia coli
P: Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Proteus mirabilis
S: Staphylococcus saprophyticus / S...
Article
Ivory vertebra (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the differential diagnosis of ivory vertebra is:
LIMPH
M.PHIL (i.e. Master of Philosophy)
Mnemonic
LIMPH
L: lymphoma (usually Hodgkin lymphoma)
I: infection (tuberculous spondylitis)
M: metastases (osteoblastic) and myelosclerosis
P: Paget disease of bone
H: heman...
Article
Branches of anterior and posterior divisions of the internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to remember the branches of the anterior and posterior divisions of the internal iliac artery is:
I <3 U SUMO SIL which reads as "I love you sumo Sil"
Mnemonic
I: internal pudendal artery
I: inferior vesical artery *
I: inferior gluteal artery
U: uterine artery (in femal...
Article
Pulmonary cavity (mnemonic)
A particularly helpful mnemonic for causes of pulmonary cavities is:
CAVITY
Mnemonic
C: cancer
lung cancer: most frequently squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
cavitary pulmonary metastasis(es): most frequently SCC
A: autoimmune; granulomas from
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
rheumatoid ar...
Article
Sacral plexus branches (mnemonic)
A handy mnemonic to recall the branches of the sacral plexus is:
Six Ps: as all of the nerves of the anterior rami (prior to its division) start with the letter P
SLIP, DSP: if you slip over, you may need to go on the DSP (Disability Support Pension)
Mnemonic
Six Ps
nerve to piriformis (S1-...
Article
Extraocular muscle involvement in thyroid associated orbitopathy (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the order in which extraocular muscles are involved in thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is:
I'M SLOw
Mnemonic
I: inferior rectus
M: medial rectus
S: superior rectus
L: lateral rectus
O: obliques muscles (superior oblique and inferior oblique)
There is some deba...
Article
Focal sclerotic bony lesions (mnemonic)
A popular mnemonic to help remember causes of focal sclerotic bony lesions is:
HOME LIFE
Mnemonic
H: healed non-ossifying fibroma (NOF)
O: osteoma
M: metastasis
E: Ewing sarcoma
L: lymphoma
I: infection or infarct
F: fibrous dysplasia
E: enchondroma
Article
Chest radiograph preinterpretation (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic for chest radiograph preinterpretation is:
POPIRAM
Mnemonic
P: projection, PA (Posterior-Anterior) or AP (Anterior-Posterior)? left lateral or right lateral?
O: orientation, determine left and right of the chest x-ray
P: penetration (of the x-ray), under- or over-penetrat...
Article
Foramen ovale contents (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember foramen ovale contents is:
OVALE
Mnemonic
O: otic ganglion (inferior)
V: V3 cranial nerve (mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve)
A: accessory meningeal artery
L: lesser petrosal nerve
E: emissary veins
Article
Nystagmus (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic to remember the expected direction of nystagmus during a caloric test is:
COWS
Mnemonic
Cold-Opposite
Warm-Same
Following ear stimulation with water (left ear):
cold water (cooler than body temperature), a right-beating nystagmus (directed toward the opposite ear) result...
Article
Finger clubbing (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to remember most of the causes of finger clubbing is:
CLUBBING
Mnemonic
C: cardiac
subacute infective endocarditis
cyanotic heart disease
atrial myxoma
L: lungs
lung abscess
empyema
cystic fibrosis
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
tuberculosis
bronchiectasis
mesothel...
Article
Skin changes of mercury poisoning (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for the skin changes associated with mercury poisoning is:
5 Ps
Mnemonic
P: pink
P: puffy
P: painful
P: paresthesia
P: peeling
Article
Lichen planus (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to describe the skin lesions associated with lichen planus is:
5 Ps
Mnemonic
P: planar
P: polygonal
P: pruritic
P: purple
P: papular
Article
Congenital hypothyroidism (mnemonic)
The features of an infant with congenital hypothyroidism can be recalled with the following mnemonic:
5 Ps
Mnemonic
P: pot belly
P: pallor
P: puffy face
P: protruding umbilicus
P: poked out tongue
Article
Calcified glial tumors (mnemonic)
In order of decreasing frequency, a useful mnemonic to remember glial tumors which calcify is:
Old Elephants Age Gracefully
Mnemonic
O: oligodendroglioma
E: ependymoma
A: astrocytoma
G: glioblastoma
Article
Acute pancreatitis severity criteria (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the severity criteria for acute pancreatitis is:
PANCREAS
Mnemonic
P: PAO2 <8 kpA
A: age >55 years
N: neutrophilia (WBC >15 x 109 / L)
C: calcium <2 mmol/L
R: renal (urea >16 mmol/L)
E: enzymes (LDH >600 IU/L and AST >200 IU/L)
A: albumin (serum) <32 g/L
S: sugar...
Article
Internal jugular vein tributaries (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to remember the branches of the internal jugular vein is:
Medical Schools Let Fun People In
Mnemonic
From inferior to superior:
M: middle thyroid vein
S: superior thyroid vein
L: lingual vein
F: facial vein
P: pharyngeal vein
I: inferior petrosal sinus
Article
Intracranial hypotension (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to remember the features of intracranial hypotension is:
SEEPS
Mnemonic
S: subdural fluid collections
E: enhancement of the pachymeninges
E: engorgement of the venous sinuses
P: pituitary hyperemia
S: sagging brain
See also
intracranial hypotension
Article
Abdominal organ echogenicity (mnemonic)
This mnemonic helps to remember the relative echogenicity of abdominal organs on ultrasound:
Darling Parents So Love Kids
Mnemonic
From most to least echogenic:
D: diaphragm
P: pancreas
S: spleen
L: liver
K: kidneys (cortex)