elderly patient

An old man presents with 6 months of memory decline, falls, visual hallucinations, agitation, and confusion. Which of the following features is relevant to diagnosing his condition?

An 80-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department from a nursing home due to increased lethargy and confusion over the past 24 hours. Her history includes dementia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Nursing staff report poor oral intake for 48 hours and a recent cough. On examination, she is drowsy but rousable. Her vital signs are: BP 85/50 mmHg, HR 110 bpm, RR 22 breaths/min, Temp 37.8°C, SpO2 94% on air. Capillary refill time is 4 seconds. Chest auscultation reveals decreased breath sounds at the bases. Abdomen is soft. Urine dipstick shows leukocytes and nitrites. She is on lisinopril and metformin. What is the most appropriate initial management step?

A 70-year-old male presents to his general practitioner complaining of mild, chronic lower back pain that has been present for several months. He describes the pain as a dull ache, worse with prolonged standing. He has a significant past medical history including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and a 50-pack-year smoking history, all of which are currently managed with medications. He denies any acute abdominal pain, pulsatile sensation, or leg symptoms. On physical examination, his vital signs are stable: blood pressure 135/85 mmHg, heart rate 72 bpm, respiratory rate 14 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 99% on room air. Abdominal examination is soft, non-tender, with no palpable masses. Peripheral pulses are symmetric and strong. As part of the investigation into his chronic back pain, a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed. An axial view from the scan is shown. Based on the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 72-year-old woman presents with a 6-month history of a non-healing rash on her chest wall at the site of a previous mastectomy performed 10 years prior for invasive ductal carcinoma. She completed adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. Examination reveals the findings shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 65-year-old man with a 20-year history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia presents with a 6-month history of burning pain in his feet, worse at night, often waking him from sleep. He also reports feeling lightheaded when standing up quickly and has noticed difficulty initiating urination and a weak stream. On examination, his blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg supine and 115/70 mmHg after standing for 3 minutes. Neurological examination reveals decreased sensation to pinprick and light touch in a stocking distribution up to the mid-calf bilaterally. Vibration sense is reduced at the ankles. Ankle reflexes are absent. The remainder of the examination is unremarkable. His most recent HbA1c is 8.9%. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of his constellation of symptoms?

A 70-year-old woman with a history of diabetes presents with fever, cough, and weight loss. A chest X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 63-year-old woman with a 20-year history of Crohn's disease presents with a one-month history of worsening abdominal pain, bloating, and occasional vomiting, associated with a 3kg weight loss. She is currently managed with mesalazine and azathioprine. Her vital signs are stable, and physical examination reveals mild right lower quadrant tenderness. Imaging is performed. Considering the clinical presentation and the provided images, which of the following represents the most appropriate next step in this patient's management?

A 62-year-old woman presents with fatigue, bone pain, and constipation. Laboratory tests reveal serum calcium 3.1 mmol/L, PTH 180 pg/mL, and elevated 24-hour urine calcium. Imaging studies are shown. Considering the clinical presentation and investigation findings, what is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 68-year-old male with known Hepatitis B related cirrhosis and a history of alcohol excess presents for routine surveillance. His alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, which has been stable at 15 ng/mL for the past two years, is now noted to be 185 ng/mL. A screening ultrasound performed three months prior was reported as showing diffuse parenchymal changes consistent with cirrhosis but no focal lesions. Due to the elevated AFP, a repeat ultrasound was performed, which identified a 2.5 cm nodule in segment VIII. To further characterise this lesion, a contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was performed, and the images provided are representative findings from this study. The patient has well-compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A) and no significant comorbidities. His liver function tests are within normal limits except for a slightly elevated GGT. Given the clinical context and the findings demonstrated in the provided images, what is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 62-year-old woman with osteoporosis and a history of kidney stones presents with a serum calcium of 2.9 mmol/L (2.1-2.6 mmol/L) and PTH of 120 pg/mL (10-65 pg/mL). She denies neck pain or swelling. The provided imaging was obtained. What is the MOST appropriate next step?

A 68-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and heart failure is admitted to the hospital with increasing shortness of breath and peripheral edema. She is currently taking furosemide 40mg daily. Her blood tests reveal the following: Na+ 130 mmol/L (135-145 mmol/L), K+ 3.1 mmol/L (3.5-5.0 mmol/L), Cl- 95 mmol/L (98-107 mmol/L), HCO3- 32 mmol/L (22-29 mmol/L). What is the most appropriate initial management?

A 78-year-old male on warfarin presents to the ED after a fall. He complains of dyspnea and right-sided chest pain. His INR is 5.0. Vitals: HR 110, BP 100/60, RR 28, SpO2 90% on room air. The provided image was obtained. What is the MOST appropriate next step?

A 68-year-old man with a history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and known secondary pulmonary hypertension presents with increasing dyspnoea and peripheral oedema. His arterial blood gas on room air shows pH 7.31, PaCO2 68 mmHg, PaO2 48 mmHg, and SaO2 80%. His chest X-ray shows hyperinflation and prominent pulmonary arteries. Which of the following interventions is most likely to acutely decrease his pulmonary vascular resistance?

A 65-year-old lady weighing 70 kg has an enlarging papule on her right neck, measuring 8 mm, raised with a keratotic horn. A keratinocytic tumor is suspected. What is the maximum safe dose of 1% lidocaine with adrenaline for local anesthesia in this patient?

A 70-year-old male presents to the emergency department with severe abdominal and back pain. He has a history of hypertension and smoking. On examination, he is hypotensive and tachycardic. Palpation reveals a pulsatile abdominal mass. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 62-year-old woman presents to her general practitioner complaining of fatigue, bone pain, and constipation for the past several months. She denies any significant past medical history. Initial laboratory investigations reveal an elevated serum calcium level of 3.1 mmol/L (reference range: 2.1-2.6 mmol/L) and an elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of 180 pg/mL (reference range: 10-65 pg/mL). A 24-hour urine calcium excretion is also elevated. The patient is referred for further imaging, the results of which are shown. Based on the available information, what is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 68-year-old woman presents with 3 days of left lower quadrant pain. She reports mild nausea but no vomiting or fever. On examination, she is afebrile, BP 130/80, HR 78, O2 sat 98% on air. There is localised tenderness in the LLQ. Bloods show WCC 13.2, CRP 45. A CT scan is performed. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the most appropriate initial management plan?

A 62-year-old woman presents with tiredness and is found to have B12 deficiency. What is the likely associated condition?

A 68-year-old male presents for a routine check-up. He has a history of smoking and hypertension, managed with lisinopril. He denies any abdominal pain, back pain, or lower extremity claudication. Physical exam is unremarkable. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen is performed, the axial view is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 65-year-old male presents with groin pain and vomiting. The provided image was taken. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 65-year-old presents with 2 days of left lower quadrant pain, fever (38.5°C), and nausea. On examination, there is localised tenderness in the LLQ. Vitals: BP 130/80, HR 90, RR 16, SpO2 98%. CRP is 150 mg/L, WCC 18 x 10^9/L. This image is obtained as part of the workup. Based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings, what is the most appropriate initial management step?

A 72-year-old male presents with vomiting and abdominal pain. An abdominal X-ray is performed. What is the MOST likely underlying cause?

An 80-year-old presents with cough, fever, and new confusion. Vital signs: T 38.5°C, HR 110, BP 100/60, RR 28, SpO2 90% on air. Chest X-ray shows consolidation. What is the most appropriate initial management step?

A 68-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented to the emergency department with a sudden onset of left-sided hemianopia and mild right-sided weakness. Her symptoms began approximately 4 hours prior to arrival. Initial neurological examination revealed a left homonymous hemianopia, mild right hemiparesis (4/5 strength), and intact sensation. A CT angiogram was performed, identifying a cerebral aneurysm, and the patient subsequently underwent endovascular coiling. The provided image was obtained immediately following the procedure. Despite the intervention, the patient's left homonymous hemianopia persists, and her right hemiparesis has not improved. Considering the findings on the post-procedure imaging in the context of her ongoing neurological deficits, which of the following is the MOST appropriate immediate management step?

A 68-year-old man presents with a 3-month history of progressive dysphagia, early satiety, and unintentional weight loss of 8 kg. He has a background of well-controlled hypertension. Physical examination reveals mild epigastric tenderness. Initial blood tests show a normocytic anaemia. An urgent upper endoscopy identified a large, ulcerated mass in the gastric body, and biopsies were taken. A staging CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis was subsequently performed. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided imaging, which of the following statements best reflects the likely prognosis and primary management strategy for this patient?

A 72-year-old male presents to his general practitioner with a 3-month history of progressively worsening constipation alternating with episodes of loose stools, associated with occasional bright red blood per rectum and an unintentional weight loss of 4 kilograms over the same period. He denies any significant past medical history or family history of bowel disease. His vital signs are stable, and physical examination, including abdominal palpation and digital rectal examination, is unremarkable. Routine blood investigations reveal a haemoglobin of 105 g/L with a mean corpuscular volume of 78 fL, and normal inflammatory markers. Given the clinical presentation, a colonoscopy is performed. The image provided is a representative view obtained during this procedure. Based on the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?

A 78-year-old male on warfarin for atrial fibrillation presents with acute severe dyspnoea and right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Vitals: T 36.8°C, HR 95, BP 110/70, RR 24, SpO2 92% RA. Exam: decreased breath sounds, dullness right hemithorax. A CT scan of the chest is performed. Considering the patient's presentation, history, and the imaging findings, which is the most appropriate immediate management?

A 72-year-old patient presents with a 4-month history of tenesmus and occasional bright red rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy was performed, and a representative image is shown. Biopsies confirm adenocarcinoma. Considering the likely stage suggested by the endoscopic appearance, which investigation is MOST crucial for pre-operative staging?

Mr. Arthur Jenkins, a 72-year-old retired accountant, presents to his GP complaining of a change in bowel habit over the past 4 months, now experiencing increased frequency and occasional loose stools mixed with some mucus. He also reports intermittent small amounts of bright red blood on the toilet paper, which he initially attributed to haemorrhoids. He denies significant weight loss or abdominal pain. His past medical history includes hypertension well-controlled on medication and osteoarthritis. On examination, his abdomen is soft and non-tender, and digital rectal examination is unremarkable. Routine blood tests, including FBE and LFTs, are within normal limits. A faecal occult blood test is positive. Given these findings, a colonoscopy is arranged. The image provided was captured during the procedure. Considering the patient's presentation and the findings observed during the colonoscopy as depicted in the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management plan?

A 65-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension presents with exertional dyspnea and fatigue. His physical examination reveals a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg, a heart rate of 88 bpm, and a soft S4 gallop. There is no peripheral edema. An electrocardiogram shows left ventricular hypertrophy with repolarization abnormalities. Which of the following diagnostic tests would be most appropriate to evaluate for underlying coronary artery disease in this patient?

A 75-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of worsening colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and multiple episodes of bilious vomiting. She reports no passage of flatus or stool for the past 18 hours. Her past medical history includes an open appendectomy 30 years ago and a hysterectomy 10 years ago. On examination, she is afebrile, heart rate 92 bpm, blood pressure 130/80 mmHg, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 98% on room air. Her abdomen is distended and diffusely tender to palpation, with high-pitched tinkling bowel sounds on auscultation. A plain abdominal X-ray series, including the image provided, was obtained. Considering the patient's clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following represents the most appropriate immediate next step in her management?

A 62-year-old woman presents to her general practitioner complaining of fatigue, bone pain, and constipation for the past several months. She denies any significant past medical history. Her vital signs are stable. Initial laboratory investigations reveal an elevated serum calcium level of 3.1 mmol/L (reference range: 2.1-2.6 mmol/L) and an elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of 180 pg/mL (reference range: 10-65 pg/mL). A 24-hour urine calcium excretion is also elevated. The patient is referred for further imaging, the results of which are shown. Based on the available information, what is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 68-year-old male presents to the ED with a painful lump in his groin that has been present for 3 days. He reports nausea but denies vomiting. His vital signs are stable. An abdominal CT is performed, and a slice is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 68-year-old male presents with fatigue, weight loss, and vague abdominal discomfort. His past medical history includes a recent diagnosis of gastric mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). A CT scan of the abdomen is performed. Based on the imaging, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A 65-year-old presents with 2 days of left lower quadrant pain, fever (38.5°C), and nausea. On examination, there is localised tenderness in the LLQ. Vitals: BP 130/80, HR 90, RR 16, SpO2 98%. CRP is 150 mg/L, WCC 18 x 10^9/L. This image is obtained as part of the workup. Considering the clinical context and the findings on the image, which of the following represents the most appropriate initial management strategy?

A 62-year-old woman presents for a routine follow-up appointment several years after undergoing a simple mastectomy for pT1N0M0 invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast. She completed adjuvant endocrine therapy and has been well since. During the consultation, she mentions that she has noticed a persistent area of skin change on her left chest wall, near the mastectomy scar, over the past few months. She describes it as occasionally itchy and slightly raised, but denies pain, discharge, or systemic symptoms such as weight loss or fever. Her vital signs are stable, and physical examination reveals no palpable axillary or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. The appearance of the affected area is shown in the image. Considering the patient's history and the clinical presentation, what is the most appropriate initial diagnostic step?

A 72-year-old woman presents with iron deficiency anaemia and a 4-month history of intermittent lower abdominal pain and tenesmus. Colonoscopy was performed, and the image shows a finding in the sigmoid colon. Biopsies are pending but highly suspicious for malignancy. What is the MOST appropriate initial staging investigation?

A 65-year-old male with recently diagnosed gastric mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma presents with unintentional weight loss. Endoscopy confirmed the diagnosis. Staging imaging is provided. His ECOG performance status is 1. Considering the extent of disease demonstrated, which of the following represents the most appropriate initial therapeutic approach?

A 68-year-old patient presents with chronic intermittent upper abdominal discomfort, postprandial fullness, and occasional regurgitation. Physical examination is unremarkable. A chest radiograph is performed as part of the workup. Considering the radiographic findings in the context of the patient's presentation, what is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 68-year-old male with a history of multiple abdominal surgeries presents to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain, distension, and obstipation for the past 3 days. His vital signs are: HR 110 bpm, BP 110/70 mmHg, RR 22 breaths/min, SpO2 97% on room air, and temperature 37.8°C. Physical examination reveals a distended abdomen with high-pitched bowel sounds. An upright abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. Given the clinical context and the radiographic findings, which demonstrate significant intraluminal gas accumulation proximal to the likely site of obstruction, what is the predominant source of this gas?

A 72-year-old man with fatigue, a past myocardial infarction at age 55, breathlessness on stairs, and ankle marks has an LVEF < 40% on echocardiogram. Which of the following medications is known to improve outcomes in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)?

A 65-year-old male presents with 2 days of constant right upper quadrant pain radiating to the back, associated with nausea and subjective fever. On examination, he is febrile (38.5°C) with significant tenderness and a positive Murphy's sign in the right upper quadrant. His white cell count is elevated at 15 x 10^9/L, and CRP is 120 mg/L. Liver function tests are within normal limits. Considering the clinical presentation and the provided imaging, what is the most appropriate timing for definitive surgical management?

A 65-year-old male with known cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis B presents with increasing abdominal distension and fatigue. He has mild ascites. Liver function tests show bilirubin 35 umol/L, INR 1.3, albumin 30 g/L. AFP is 850 ng/mL. Imaging is performed as shown. Based on the imaging findings and clinical presentation, which of the following treatment modalities is MOST likely to be considered for this patient?

A 72-year-old man with a history of hypertension and smoking presents to his GP with mild, intermittent abdominal discomfort. His vital signs are stable, and abdominal examination is soft and non-tender. As part of the workup, a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed. The provided image is an axial view from this study. Based on the clinical context and the findings in the provided image, what is the most appropriate next step in this patient's management?

A 70-year-old man with a history of hypertension and heart failure is being managed with an ACE inhibitor. He presents to the emergency department complaining of dizziness, especially when standing up. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, and his other vital signs are stable. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in managing this patient?

A 70-year-old male with a history of smoking presents for a routine check-up. The image is taken. What is the recommended surveillance interval?

A 68-year-old female presents with right leg pain and skin changes after starting warfarin for atrial fibrillation 5 days ago. Her INR is currently 3.5. Examination reveals the findings in the image. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

An asymptomatic 70-year-old male undergoes a CT scan of the abdomen as part of an investigation for mild, intermittent lower back pain. His vital signs are stable, and physical examination is unremarkable. Considering the findings on the provided image, what is the most appropriate next step in this patient's management?

A 68-year-old man presents to his GP with a 4-month history of increasing constipation alternating with loose stools, occasional rectal bleeding, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation. He reports fatigue but denies significant weight loss. His physical examination, including digital rectal examination, is normal. Full blood count shows a haemoglobin of 115 g/L with low ferritin. A colonoscopy is performed, and the image provided is a representative view from the procedure. Considering the clinical presentation and the finding observed during the colonoscopy, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?

A 72-year-old male on warfarin presents with sudden onset dyspnea. His INR is 6.0. The provided image was obtained. What is the MOST appropriate next step?