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Peripheral Neuropathy in Heavy Metal Exposure

Topic: Pathology

Created on Monday, February 5 2007 by jdmiles

Last modified on Monday, February 5 2007.

A patient presents with a history of several months of numbness in his fingers and toes. Prior workup, including folate, B12, homocysteine, MHATP, RPR, and hemoglobin A1C have been unremarkable. The patient states that he used to work for a manufacturing company, and his job involved exposure to many various potentially toxic compounds. Of the following choices, which chemical is most likely to produce peripheral neuropathy in this patient?

 
        A) Aluminum
 
        B) Bismuth
 
        C) Manganese
 
        D) Mercury
 
        E) Cyanide
 

 


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This question was created on February 05, 2007 by jdmiles.
This question was last modified on February 05, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS




A) Aluminum

This answer is incorrect.


Aluminum can produce encephalopathy, but is not known to cause peripheral neuropathy.  (See References)

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B) Bismuth

This answer is incorrect.


Bismuth is not known to cause peripheral neuropathy.  (See References)

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C) Manganese

This answer is incorrect.


Manganese has been implicated in the development of Parkinsonism, but is not known to cause peripheral neuropathy.  (See References)

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D) Mercury

This answer is correct.


Mercury can produce peripheral neuropathy.  (See References)

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E) Cyanide

This answer is incorrect.


Cyanide is not known to cause peripheral neuropathy.  (See References)

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References:

1. Graham, D.I., and Lantos, P.L. (2002). Greenfield's neuropathology, 7th ed. Arnold Press, New York.
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pathology
Peripheral Neuropathy in Heavy Metal Exposure
Question ID: 020507095
Question written by J. Douglas Miles, (C) 2006-2009, all rights reserved.
Created: 02/05/2007
Modified: 02/05/2007
Estimated Permutations: 480

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