Assessment template

Board-Style Question Format

Each board-style item integrates pathology image recognition with clinical reasoning, designed to mirror the rigor of certification exams.

Required fields

  • Clinical vignette
  • Pathology image or image set
  • Question stem
  • Multiple-choice answers
  • Correct answer
  • Explanation
  • Key visual clue
  • Why the other answers are incorrect
  • Difficulty level
  • Linked pattern-library topic
  • Educational objective

Sample item

Clinical Vignette

A 42-year-old patient presents with nephrotic-range proteinuria and edema. A PAS-stained kidney biopsy image is shown.

Question

Which visual feature best supports the most likely pattern?

Answer choices

  1. A. Segmental collapse of capillary loops
  2. B. Nodular mesangial expansion
  3. C. Cellular crescent formation
  4. D. Diffuse interstitial eosinophilic infiltrate
  5. E. Arteriolar onion-skinning

Correct Answer

B. Nodular mesangial expansion

Explanation

The image demonstrates nodular mesangial expansion, a classic visual pattern associated with diabetic kidney disease in the appropriate clinical context.

Key Visual Clue

Round, PAS-positive mesangial nodules within glomeruli.

Educational Objective

Recognize nodular mesangial expansion and connect the visual pattern to the clinical differential diagnosis.

For educational use only. Not intended for clinical diagnosis or patient care decisions.