STUVIA · PREMIUM STUDY NOTES
I-HUMAN PATIENT CASE STUDY
Betty Burns — Severe Atraumatic Lower Back Pain
Week 9 Case | Part 2 V5 PC PAC | Complete Expert Walkthrough
53 y/o Female Low Back Pain Spinal Metastasis Hx Breast Cancer
Patient Age & Sex Chief Complaint Lead Diagnosis Key Risk Factor
▌ Patient Profile ▌ What's Included
Patient Name: Betty Burns HISTORY
Age / Sex: 53 years old / Female ◆ All required history questions & correct answers
Chief Complaint: Severe atraumatic lower back pain ◆ Pain characterization: onset, quality, radiation, severity
Pain Onset: 3 days ago (lifting laundry basket) ◆ Red flag symptoms: weight loss, night sweats, neuro deficits
Pain Scale: 10/10 — sharp, stabbing, gnawing ◆ Cancer history & risk factor exploration
Radiation: Right leg & thigh — numbness/tingling PHYSICAL EXAM
Associated Sx: Night sweats, 20 lb unintentional weight loss ◆ Full neuro exam — motor, sensory, reflexes
RUQ: Fullness/heaviness — upper right abdomen ◆ Spine & musculoskeletal exam findings
◆ Abdominal exam — RUQ fullness assessment
Hx Breast Cancer: Intraductal breast Ca — 5 yrs post-diagnosis
◆ Vital signs interpretation (elevated BP noted)
BP: 142/80 (L) | 144/82 (R) — Elevated
Pulse: 88 bpm — Regular rhythm, normal strength ASSESSMENT & DDX
◆ Key findings organized & ranked (MSAP)
▌ Differential Diagnoses ◆ Full 5-item DDx with clinical rationale
#1 LEAD Spinal Metastasis / Vertebral Mets ◆ Lead / Alternative / Must-Not-Miss tags
#2 Lumbar Disc Herniation (L4–L5 / L5–S1) ◆ Cancer metastasis red flags highlighted
#3 Spinal Stenosis
TESTS & IMAGING
#4 Epidural Abscess
◆ MRI spine — spinal metastasis workup
#5 MNM Cauda Equina Syndrome
◆ CT scan — vertebral lesion evaluation
▌ Grading Breakdown ◆ CBC, CMP, tumor markers (CA 15-3)
✔ History Questions 30% ◆ Bone scan — metastatic disease staging
✔ Physical Examination 30% DIAGNOSIS & PLAN
✔ Differential Dx List 15% ◆ Final diagnosis confirmed with expert notes
✔ DDx Ranking (Lead/Alt/MNM) 10% ◆ SOAP note / assessment-management plan
✔ Lab / Imaging Tests 15% ◆ Oncology referral + pain management plan
◆ Radiation / systemic therapy discussion
⚠ Clinical Pearl
In a patient with prior breast cancer presenting with new back
pain, radiculopathy, weight loss, and night sweats — spinal
metastasis is the diagnosis until proven otherwise. Emergent MRI
and oncology referral are mandatory.
🔍 Stuvia Search Tags
, Betty Burns | i-Human | Back Pain | Lower Back Pain | Severe Atraumatic | Week 9 | Part 2 | V5 PC PAC | Spinal Metastasis | Lumbar Disc Herniation | Spinal
Stenosis | Epidural Abscess | Cauda Equina Syndrome | Radiculopathy | Neurologic Deficits | Breast Cancer History | Intraductal Carcinoma | Night Sweats |
Weight Loss | MRI Spine | Bone Scan | Tumor Markers | CA 15-3 | Oncology Referral | NP Case Study | Nurse Practitioner | APRN | FNP | DNP | Clinical Reasoning
| Assessment Walkthrough | i-Human Patients | Physical Exam | History Taking | Must Not Miss | Lead Diagnosis | MSAP | DDx | SOAP Note | Pain Management
| Cancer Metastasis | Red Flag Back Pain
✅ Verified Against i-Human Expert Review Mode ★★★★★ TOP SELLER
All answers cross-referenced with Expert Feedback panels — History, Exam, Assessment, Tests & Instant Download · DOCX & PDF
Diagnosis. 100% Exam-Ready Study Notes
I-HUMAN PATIENT CASE STUDY
Betty Burns — Severe Atraumatic Lower Back Pain
Week 9 Case | Part 2 V5 PC PAC | Complete Expert Walkthrough
53 y/o Female Low Back Pain Spinal Metastasis Hx Breast Cancer
Patient Age & Sex Chief Complaint Lead Diagnosis Key Risk Factor
▌ Patient Profile ▌ What's Included
Patient Name: Betty Burns HISTORY
Age / Sex: 53 years old / Female ◆ All required history questions & correct answers
Chief Complaint: Severe atraumatic lower back pain ◆ Pain characterization: onset, quality, radiation, severity
Pain Onset: 3 days ago (lifting laundry basket) ◆ Red flag symptoms: weight loss, night sweats, neuro deficits
Pain Scale: 10/10 — sharp, stabbing, gnawing ◆ Cancer history & risk factor exploration
Radiation: Right leg & thigh — numbness/tingling PHYSICAL EXAM
Associated Sx: Night sweats, 20 lb unintentional weight loss ◆ Full neuro exam — motor, sensory, reflexes
RUQ: Fullness/heaviness — upper right abdomen ◆ Spine & musculoskeletal exam findings
◆ Abdominal exam — RUQ fullness assessment
Hx Breast Cancer: Intraductal breast Ca — 5 yrs post-diagnosis
◆ Vital signs interpretation (elevated BP noted)
BP: 142/80 (L) | 144/82 (R) — Elevated
Pulse: 88 bpm — Regular rhythm, normal strength ASSESSMENT & DDX
◆ Key findings organized & ranked (MSAP)
▌ Differential Diagnoses ◆ Full 5-item DDx with clinical rationale
#1 LEAD Spinal Metastasis / Vertebral Mets ◆ Lead / Alternative / Must-Not-Miss tags
#2 Lumbar Disc Herniation (L4–L5 / L5–S1) ◆ Cancer metastasis red flags highlighted
#3 Spinal Stenosis
TESTS & IMAGING
#4 Epidural Abscess
◆ MRI spine — spinal metastasis workup
#5 MNM Cauda Equina Syndrome
◆ CT scan — vertebral lesion evaluation
▌ Grading Breakdown ◆ CBC, CMP, tumor markers (CA 15-3)
✔ History Questions 30% ◆ Bone scan — metastatic disease staging
✔ Physical Examination 30% DIAGNOSIS & PLAN
✔ Differential Dx List 15% ◆ Final diagnosis confirmed with expert notes
✔ DDx Ranking (Lead/Alt/MNM) 10% ◆ SOAP note / assessment-management plan
✔ Lab / Imaging Tests 15% ◆ Oncology referral + pain management plan
◆ Radiation / systemic therapy discussion
⚠ Clinical Pearl
In a patient with prior breast cancer presenting with new back
pain, radiculopathy, weight loss, and night sweats — spinal
metastasis is the diagnosis until proven otherwise. Emergent MRI
and oncology referral are mandatory.
🔍 Stuvia Search Tags
, Betty Burns | i-Human | Back Pain | Lower Back Pain | Severe Atraumatic | Week 9 | Part 2 | V5 PC PAC | Spinal Metastasis | Lumbar Disc Herniation | Spinal
Stenosis | Epidural Abscess | Cauda Equina Syndrome | Radiculopathy | Neurologic Deficits | Breast Cancer History | Intraductal Carcinoma | Night Sweats |
Weight Loss | MRI Spine | Bone Scan | Tumor Markers | CA 15-3 | Oncology Referral | NP Case Study | Nurse Practitioner | APRN | FNP | DNP | Clinical Reasoning
| Assessment Walkthrough | i-Human Patients | Physical Exam | History Taking | Must Not Miss | Lead Diagnosis | MSAP | DDx | SOAP Note | Pain Management
| Cancer Metastasis | Red Flag Back Pain
✅ Verified Against i-Human Expert Review Mode ★★★★★ TOP SELLER
All answers cross-referenced with Expert Feedback panels — History, Exam, Assessment, Tests & Instant Download · DOCX & PDF
Diagnosis. 100% Exam-Ready Study Notes
