American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What characterizes Pott disease?

1. Joint infections with M. tuberculosis

2. Acute pneumonia caused by M. tuberculosis

3. Granulomatous inflammation

4. Localized skin lesions

The correct answer is: Joint infections with M. tuberculosis

Pott disease, also known as spinal tuberculosis, is a form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that primarily affects the spine. It is characterized by the infection and subsequent inflammation of the vertebrae due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The hallmark of this condition is the development of destructive lesions in the vertebrae, which can lead to spinal deformities, abscess formation, and potentially neurological deficits due to compression of the spinal cord. The correct answer relates to the involvement of the spine specifically by M. tuberculosis rather than general joint infections. Other manifestations of tuberculosis, like granulomatous inflammation, are present in various forms of the disease but are not exclusive to Pott disease. While localized skin lesions may occur in other forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (like cutaneous tuberculosis), they do not characterize Pott disease specifically. Acute pneumonia from M. tuberculosis pertains more to the pulmonary form of the disease and does not involve or describe the spinal infection seen in Pott disease.