Air trapping in lungs differentials (DDx): “BOAST CV”
You’re reviewing a CT chest (inspiratory and expiratory) and you notice that patchy areas of lung refuse to deflate like the last balloons at...
Calcified Lungs Metastasis Differentials Mnemonic: “BOB CAT”
So there I was, standing beside the CT workstation during a sleepy post-call round when Dr. Danish Ramzan peeked over and said,
“Yaar, this lung...
Causes of Apple Core Sign Mnemonic: “IDEAL”
I still remember the day when Dr. Basit Khan (our Consultant General Medicine and walking-talking UpToDate) looked at a barium enema and declared:
“Apple core...
Posterior Mediastinal Masses DDx Mnemonic – “NEED SPINE”
We’ve all had that moment — late-night CT report, hazy mediastinum, and the radiologist’s final impression:
"Posterior mediastinal mass – further evaluation advised."
Cue the collective...
Anterior Mediastinal Masses DDx Mnemonic – “4 T’s’
You’re staring at a chest X-ray that looks like someone parked a mango in the upper mediastinum. Your radiologist friend murmurs, “Anterior mediastinal mass.”
Cue...
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How to crack USMLE Step 1 as an undergrad: A Bolanian’s Experience
Article last updated on 27th March 2026 by Dr. Abdul Qahar Khan Yasinzai
Note/Disclaimer:
Please read my entire experience as it is not limited to USMLE aspirants...
Salary of Doctors in UAE (Authentic and Fully Updated 2025)
Doctors are one of the highest paid professionals in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is a "tax-free" country with tremendous advantages for expatriates, especially...
Meckel’s Diverticulum Mnemonic – (The Rule of Twos)
Every once in a while, you’ll find yourself scratching your head in the ER with a child presenting with painless lower GI bleeding and...
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Mnemonic: “All Fs”
As a general physician, I’ve had my fair share of being pulled into postnatal case discussions with our peadiatric unit. And nothing makes you...
Amino Acids Not Absorbed in Cystinuria Mnemonic: “COAL”
Let me paint you a scene: a young man from Mashkel, fit and otherwise healthy, walks into the ER clutching his flank like he’s...
Peripheral Neuropathy Causes Mnemonic: “A.B.C.D.E”
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a patient from Mashkay walk into your OPD with numb feet, burning soles, and a Vitamin B12 level...
Myotonic Dystrophy Mnemonic: “ABCDEFGHI”
There are days when I feel like my memory is doing a bit of its own dystrophy—especially when faced with syndromes that have multi-system...
Gerstmann Syndrome Features Mnemonic [Easy-to-remember]
There are few things more frustrating than being handed a neurology case on rounds, and realizing it’s one of those “cortical syndromes” that make...
Cerebellar Signs Mnemonic [Easy to remember]
There’s nothing quite like examining a cerebellar syndrome patient on a busy ward round when you’re half-caffeinated and your SHO looks more uncoordinated than...
Seizure Features Mnemonic [Easy-to-remember]
There’s nothing quite like the moment you get called to the ward because “the patient was unresponsive, then shook a bit, and now they’re...
Causes of Unintentional Weight Loss in the Elderly Mnemonic
If you’ve ever worked a medical ward in Balochistan — say, with a frail old gentleman from Panjgur who insists he’s “just fine” despite...
Recognizing end-of-life Mnemonic [Easy to remember]
Let’s talk about something we don’t talk about enough — recognizing when someone is truly reaching the end of life. It’s not always dramatic....
End-of-Life Symptoms Mnemonic: “PANDA”
Let’s be honest — no one leaves med school truly prepared for end-of-life care. The first time I managed a palliative patient from Nok...
Multi-System Atrophy Mnemonic [Easy-to-remember]
Let’s get real — Multi-System Atrophy (MSA) is one of those diagnoses that makes med students panic, neurologists smirk, and internal medicine doctors quietly...
Endoscopy Contraindications Mnemonic: “SPACIOUS”
If you’ve spent any time in endoscopy, you know the pressure. The scope's ready, the patient's fasting (hopefully), the gastro fellow is excited, and...
How to Remember Southern, Northern, and Western Blot Tests [Mnemonic]
Let’s be honest — some medical concepts are less about understanding and more about surviving the exam. Blotting techniques fall exactly into that category....
Pancreatic Hormones Mnemonic: “PIGS”
Pancreas — the quiet endocrine/exocrine overachiever we all secretly respect (and occasionally curse during a tricky hypoglycemia case).
Now, if you’ve ever fumbled through a...
Bilateral Hilar Lymphadenopathy Causes Mnemonic: “CHIASM”
We’ve all seen it — a chest X-ray with those bulky hilar shadows staring back like twin boss fights on either side of the...
Causes of Pulmonary Nodules Mnemonic
Pulmonary nodules — the “small round thing” that shows up on CT and sends half the ward into a frenzy.
Is it TB? Cancer? A...
Causes of Ring-Enhancing Brain Lesions on CT/MRI Mnemonic
Few things in radiology make medics sit up straighter than a ring-enhancing lesion on brain CT/MRI. It’s the imaging equivalent of your boss walking...
