National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

Insidious respiratory issues and small red granulomas around the mouth are indicators of which condition?

1. Systemic sclerosis

2. Bronchiectasis

3. Sarcoidosis

4. Phenylketonuria

The correct answer is: Sarcoidosis

The presence of insidious respiratory issues combined with small red granulomas around the mouth strongly suggests sarcoidosis. This condition is characterized by the formation of granulomas—small clusters of inflammatory cells—in various organs, commonly the lungs. These granulomas can lead to respiratory problems, as they interfere with normal lung function and can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain. The oral manifestations in sarcoidosis can include erythema nodosum or other types of granulomatous lesions. Identifying these granulomas, particularly when they appear around the mouth, supports the diagnosis of sarcoidosis alongside the respiratory symptoms. Other conditions presented in the options do not align as closely with the specific combination of respiratory difficulties and oral granulomas. Systemic sclerosis involves skin and connective tissue changes, bronchiectasis typically results from chronic infections or inflammation without the granuloma formation, and phenylketonuria is a metabolic disorder unrelated to respiratory issues or granulomas. Therefore, the indicators point definitively towards sarcoidosis as the most fitting diagnosis.