← Back to Topics

elderly patient

Practice targeted AMC-style multiple-choice questions on elderly patient.

Related Topics

Right leg affected by warfarin necrosis
Image by Bakoyiannis C, Karaolanis G, Patelis N, Maskanakis A, Tsaples G, Klonaris C, Georgopoulos S, Liakakos T CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old female presents with right leg pain and skin changes after starting warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Her INR is 3.5. Examination reveals the findings in the image. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Administer vitamin K and discontinue warfarin
B. Elevate the leg and apply compression bandages
C. Prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic
D. Apply topical corticosteroids
E. Increase the dose of warfarin
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 70-year-old man presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. He has a history of hypertension and is currently on antihypertensive medication. On examination, he is drowsy and has a blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg. A CT scan of the brain shows a hyperdense area in the right basal ganglia. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Intracerebral hemorrhage
B. Ischemic stroke
C. Migraine with aura
D. Transient ischemic attack
E. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 72-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital with increasing confusion and generalized weakness over the past week. Her medical history includes hypertension, for which she takes hydrochlorothiazide 25mg daily. On examination, she is lethargic and disoriented. Her blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, heart rate is 88 bpm, and respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Neurological examination reveals decreased reflexes. Initial laboratory investigations reveal the following: Sodium: 118 mmol/L Potassium: 3.8 mmol/L Chloride: 85 mmol/L Bicarbonate: 24 mmol/L Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): 25 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.1 mg/dL Glucose: 95 mg/dL Urine osmolality is 600 mOsm/kg. Serum osmolality is 250 mOsm/kg. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management strategy?

A. Initiation of desmopressin (DDAVP) therapy to reduce free water excretion.
B. Administration of intravenous hypertonic saline (3% NaCl) at a rate of 50 mL/hour.
C. Administration of a loop diuretic (e.g., furosemide) to promote free water excretion.
D. Administration of intravenous normal saline (0.9% NaCl) at a rate of 100 mL/hour.
E. Fluid restriction to 800-1000 mL/day and monitoring of serum sodium levels every 4-6 hours.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 68-year-old man with a 40 pack-year smoking history presents with a 3-month history of persistent cough, occasional haemoptysis, and a 5 kg weight loss. A chest X-ray shows a left upper lobe opacity. A subsequent CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis confirms a 4 cm mass in the left upper lobe and identifies several enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (largest 1.5 cm). There is no clear evidence of distant metastatic disease on the CT scan. He has no neurological symptoms or bone pain. Pulmonary function tests are pending. What is the most appropriate next investigation for staging this patient's non-small cell lung cancer?

A. Brain MRI
B. Bone scan
C. Mediastinoscopy
D. PET-CT scan
E. Repeat CT scan in 3 months
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

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?

A. Parkinsonian features
B. Normal CSF markers for amyloid and tau.
C. Cerebellar signs
D. Significant early memory impairment.
E. Absence of motor symptoms.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male with a history of smoking and hyperlipidemia presents for a health check. He is asymptomatic. A contrast-enhanced CT abdomen is performed as part of a screening protocol. An axial view is shown. Besides optimizing medical management, what is the MOST appropriate next step?

A. Repeat imaging in 6-12 months
B. Referral for immediate surgical repair
C. Initiate dual antiplatelet therapy
D. Prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroids
E. Order a D-dimer to rule out acute thrombosis
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 70-year-old man with severe COPD (FEV1 30% predicted), on triple inhaled therapy and supplemental oxygen, presents with a 3-day history of increased dyspnoea, productive cough with purulent sputum, and reduced exercise tolerance. He denies fever or chest pain. On examination, he is tachypnoeic (RR 24), saturating 88% on 2 L/min oxygen, with diffuse wheeze and prolonged expiration. His chest X-ray shows hyperinflation but no new infiltrates. His arterial blood gas on 2 L/min oxygen shows pH 7.32, pCO2 68 mmHg, pO2 55 mmHg, bicarbonate 35 mmol/L. Given this presentation, what is the most appropriate immediate management step?

A. Initiate non-invasive ventilation
B. Prescribe oral antibiotics
C. Administer intravenous corticosteroids
D. Increase supplemental oxygen flow rate
E. Perform a bronchoscopy
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Giant hiatal hernia, CT image. 63 year old man.
Image by Jmarchn CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 63-year-old man presents to his GP with a 6-month history of intermittent postprandial fullness and mild dysphagia, particularly with solid foods. He reports occasional regurgitation but denies significant heartburn or chest pain. His vital signs are stable, and physical examination is unremarkable. Recent blood tests show mild iron deficiency anaemia. The provided image is from a CT scan of the chest and upper abdomen performed as part of his investigation. Considering the clinical presentation and the significant anatomical finding demonstrated in the image, what is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Order a barium swallow study
B. Initiate high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy
C. Referral for surgical assessment and repair
D. Perform an urgent upper endoscopy
E. Advise watchful waiting and lifestyle modifications
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 68-year-old woman presents with a 2-week history of progressive weakness in her right arm and leg, associated with a tremor in the right hand. She also reports feeling more tired than usual. Her general practitioner noted an elevated TSH (12 mIU/L, reference range 0.4-4.0 mIU/L) on routine blood tests done a month ago, but free T4 was within the normal range (15 pmol/L, reference range 10-20 pmol/L). On examination, she has mild right-sided hemiparesis (MRC grade 4/5) and a coarse tremor in the right hand, worse with action. Reflexes are brisk on the right. The rest of the neurological exam is unremarkable. She has mild bradycardia (55 bpm) but no other signs of overt hypothyroidism. What is the most appropriate initial investigation?

A. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
B. Serum anti-thyroid antibodies (e.g., TPO antibodies)
C. CT angiography of the head and neck
D. Repeat thyroid function tests including free T3
E. MRI brain
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents to his general practitioner for a routine check-up. He reports a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and a 40-pack-year smoking history. He denies any abdominal pain, back pain, or lower extremity claudication. On physical examination, his vital signs are within normal limits. Auscultation of the abdomen is unremarkable, and peripheral pulses are palpable and symmetric. As part of his cardiovascular risk assessment, a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed. An axial view from the scan is shown. Based on the image and the patient's clinical presentation, which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Prescribe a beta-blocker to reduce blood pressure and heart rate
B. Schedule a repeat CT scan in 6-12 months to monitor aneurysm size
C. Refer to vascular surgery for elective repair
D. Order an ultrasound of the abdomen to further evaluate the aorta
E. Initiate statin therapy and lifestyle modifications
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 75-year-old obese man with a history of hypertension and chronic lower limb skin changes, swelling, tingling, and weakness presents with sudden onset inability to stand or move his legs, accompanied by a loss of sensation extending up to his waist. On examination, he has flaccid paralysis of both lower limbs, absent deep tendon reflexes in the legs, and a sensory level at the umbilicus. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial investigation?

A. Urgent MRI of the spine
B. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies
C. CT angiography of the aorta and iliac arteries
D. Lumbar puncture
E. Urgent CT scan of the spine
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
CT scan showing hemothorax caused by warfarin use
Image by Cevik Y CC BY 3.0 · Source

A 75-year-old male with a history of atrial fibrillation on warfarin presents to the emergency department with acute onset shortness of breath and right-sided chest pain. His vital signs are stable. His INR is found to be 7.2. A chest CT is performed (image attached). Based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings, what is the MOST appropriate immediate management step?

A. Administer Vitamin K and Prothrombinex (PCC) and prepare for chest tube insertion.
B. Administer Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and arrange for surgical consultation.
C. Prescribe analgesia and observe the patient for clinical improvement.
D. Proceed directly to chest tube insertion without reversing anticoagulation.
E. Administer Vitamin K only and monitor the patient closely.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 68-year-old male with a history of hypertension and stable angina is prescribed amlodipine. He returns after two weeks complaining of significant ankle edema. What is the most appropriate initial management step?

A. Add a beta-blocker to counteract the effects of amlodipine.
B. Advise the patient to elevate his legs and wear compression stockings.
C. Reduce the dose of amlodipine.
D. Switch to an alternative antihypertensive such as an ACE inhibitor or ARB.
E. Prescribe a diuretic to manage the edema.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 60-year-old woman presents to her GP with a 3-month history of fatigue, weight gain, and feeling cold all the time. She also reports constipation and dry skin. On examination, she has a slow heart rate and her skin appears dry and coarse. What is the most appropriate initial investigation?

A. Serum TSH level
B. Complete blood count
C. Serum cortisol level
D. Liver function tests
E. Serum calcium level
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Post-embolization arteriogram showing coiled aneurysm (indicated by yellow arrows) of the posteriorcerebral artery with a residual aneurysmal sac.
Image by Promod Pillai, Aftab Karim, Anil Nanda CC BY 2.0 · Source

A 68-year-old woman with a history of hypertension presents with a severe headache and altered mental status. Aneurysmal coiling was performed. The image shows a post-operative angiogram. 6 hours later, she develops a fever of 38.5°C and worsening confusion. What is the MOST appropriate next step?

A. Obtain blood cultures and start broad-spectrum antibiotics
B. Increase the dose of her antihypertensive medication
C. Repeat CT angiogram of the head
D. Initiate nimodipine
E. Administer intravenous mannitol
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
CT scan showing hemothorax caused by warfarin use
Image by Cevik Y CC BY 3.0 · Source

A 78-year-old male on warfarin for atrial fibrillation presents with sudden onset of severe dyspnoea and right-sided pleuritic chest pain. He denies trauma. On examination, he is tachypnoeic, oxygen saturation is 92% on room air. Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 95 bpm. Chest examination reveals decreased breath sounds on the right. A CT scan of the chest is performed. Considering the patient's clinical presentation, medical history, and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following pharmacological agents is the most appropriate immediate intervention?

A. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
B. Vitamin K
C. Tranexamic acid
D. Prothrombinex (PCC)
E. Recombinant Factor VIIa
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
CT, ultrasonography, SPECT and scintigraphy of intra-thyroid parathyroid adenoma
Image by Mnahi Bin Saeedan, Ibtisam Musallam Aljohani, Ayman Omar Khushaim, Salwa Qasim Bukhari, Salahudin Tayeb Elnaas CC BY 4.0 · Source

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. Initiate medical management with cinacalcet
B. Prescribe bisphosphonates for bone pain
C. Repeat serum calcium and PTH in 3 months
D. Parathyroidectomy
E. Refer for genetic testing for multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Diverticular disease
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

A 68-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of worsening left lower quadrant abdominal pain, associated with subjective fever, chills, and nausea. He reports some recent constipation. On examination, his temperature is 38.5°C, pulse 95 bpm, BP 130/80 mmHg. Abdominal examination reveals tenderness and guarding in the left iliac fossa. Bowel sounds are reduced. Blood tests show a white cell count of 15 x 10^9/L (neutrophils 85%) and C-reactive protein of 120 mg/L. Urea, electrolytes, and creatinine are within normal limits. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed (image provided). Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following represents the most appropriate initial management strategy?

A. Conservative management with analgesia and observation.
B. Oral antibiotics and outpatient management.
C. Urgent surgical resection of the affected segment.
D. Colonoscopy to assess the severity of diverticular disease.
E. Intravenous antibiotics and consider percutaneous drainage.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 65-year-old man undergoes successful coil embolization of a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Two days post-procedure, he develops a temperature of 38.1°C, generalized malaise, and a headache unresponsive to paracetamol. Neurological exam is unchanged from baseline. CRP is 45 mg/L (normal <5). Which of the following is the most likely cause of his current symptoms?

A. Bacterial meningitis
B. Post-embolization syndrome
C. Re-rupture of the aneurysm
D. Vasospasm
E. Deep vein thrombosis
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Clinical aspects of mammary Paget's disease occurred on the thoracic wall where simple mastectomy was performed some years before.
Image by Monica Giovannini, Carmelo D'Atri, Quirino Piubello, Annamaria Molino CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

A 70-year-old woman presents with a lesion on her chest wall at the site of a mastectomy performed 10 years prior. She reports it started as a small area of redness and has slowly enlarged. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?

A. Eczema
B. Radiation dermatitis
C. Paget's disease of the breast
D. Invasive ductal carcinoma
E. Herpes zoster
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Diverticular disease
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

A 68-year-old male presents with a 2-day history of worsening left lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever (38.5°C), and nausea. He has a history of similar, milder pain episodes. Examination reveals left iliac fossa tenderness with guarding. Bloods show WCC 16, CRP 120. A CT scan is performed (image provided). Considering the clinical picture and the imaging findings, which of the following represents the most appropriate initial management strategy?

A. Administer intravenous fluids and analgesia, and observe in the emergency department for 12 hours.
B. Initiate intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics and admit for inpatient care.
C. Arrange urgent surgical review for consideration of immediate operative intervention.
D. Prescribe oral antibiotics and arrange follow-up with his general practitioner.
E. Schedule an urgent colonoscopy to evaluate the severity and rule out malignancy.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

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. Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
B. Renal colic
C. Acute pancreatitis
D. Myocardial infarction
E. Diverticulitis
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Diverticulitis in the left lower quadrant. There is outpouching of the colonic wall, wall thickening, and surrounding fat stranding.
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

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. Discharge with analgesia and advice to return if symptoms worsen, without antibiotics.
B. Outpatient management with oral antibiotics and analgesia.
C. Admission for intravenous antibiotics and observation.
D. Urgent colonoscopy to assess the extent of disease.
E. Surgical consultation for potential colectomy.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
An incarcerated inguinal hernia as seen on CT
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents with a painful, irreducible right groin mass. He reports vomiting and abdominal distension. His vitals are: HR 110, BP 100/60, RR 22, SpO2 96% RA. The provided image was obtained. What is the next step?

A. Attempt manual reduction with sedation
B. Surgical consultation for emergent repair
C. Order a repeat CT scan with contrast in 6 hours
D. Start a clear liquid diet
E. Administer intravenous antibiotics
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Ovarian Cyst
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 62-year-old woman presents with a 4-month history of increasing abdominal distension, bloating, and a sensation of early fullness after eating. She has also noticed a gradual increase in her waist circumference and reports feeling more fatigued than usual. Her medical history includes well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia, managed with metformin and atorvastatin respectively. She is post-menopausal, having completed menopause 10 years ago. On physical examination, her vital signs are stable: blood pressure 128/78 mmHg, heart rate 68 bpm, respiratory rate 14/min, and temperature 36.6°C. Abdominal examination reveals moderate distension and a firm, irregular mass is palpable extending from the pelvis into the lower abdomen. Bowel sounds are present and normal. A recent transvaginal ultrasound was inconclusive due to the size of the mass, prompting a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, an axial image from which is shown. Given the clinical presentation and the findings on the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Arrange for a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the mass under CT guidance.
B. Prescribe a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics for presumed pelvic inflammatory disease.
C. Schedule a follow-up CT scan in 3 months to monitor for changes in the mass size and appearance.
D. Referral to a gynaecological oncologist and measurement of serum CA-125.
E. Referral to a general surgeon for urgent exploratory laparotomy.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Endoscopy image of colon adenocarcinoma in sigmoid colon.
Image by Unknown CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 72-year-old woman presents with a 3-month history of worsening constipation, occasional bright red rectal bleeding, and unintentional weight loss of 4 kg. She reports feeling increasingly tired. Her past medical history includes hypertension and osteoarthritis. On examination, her vital signs are stable. Abdominal examination is soft, non-tender, with no palpable masses. Digital rectal examination reveals no palpable lesion. Blood tests show a haemoglobin of 108 g/L, MCV 78 fL, and ferritin 12 µg/L. A colonoscopy was performed, and the image provided was captured during the procedure. Considering the clinical presentation and the finding observed during the colonoscopy, which of the following investigations is most crucial for determining the extent of disease and guiding definitive treatment planning within the multidisciplinary team framework?

A. Repeat colonoscopy in 3 months
B. Commencement of iron supplementation and review in 4 weeks
C. Urgent surgical consultation for immediate resection
D. CT scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis
E. Referral for palliative care assessment
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Mammogram microcalcifications in carcinoma in situ, CC, details
Image by Jmarchn CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 65-year-old asymptomatic woman undergoes a screening mammogram. The image shows the findings. Her previous mammograms have been unremarkable. What is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Stereotactic core biopsy
B. MRI of the breast
C. Excisional biopsy
D. Ultrasound of the breast
E. Reassurance and routine screening in 1 year
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Inguinal hernia right view. Adult male with an inguinal hernia, showing bulging in the groin area.
Image by IkeTheSloth CC0 1.0 · Source

A 62-year-old man presents to his GP with a history of a bulge in his right groin that has been present for approximately 18 months. He reports it is more prominent with straining or standing and disappears completely when he lies down. He denies any associated pain, nausea, vomiting, or change in bowel habits. He has no significant past medical history. His physical examination reveals the finding depicted in the image. Vital signs are within normal limits. Based on this clinical picture, which of the following represents the most appropriate definitive management strategy for this patient?

A. Observation with regular follow-up.
B. Urgent surgical exploration.
C. Further imaging to confirm the diagnosis.
D. Elective surgical repair.
E. Non-surgical management with a supportive device.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

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. Oral antibiotics and outpatient management
B. Chest CT scan
C. Bronchoscopy
D. Sputum culture and sensitivity testing
E. Intravenous antibiotics and hospital admission
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Hepatic metastases from a gastric mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC).
Image by Hellerhoff CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

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. Based on the clinical context and the findings demonstrated, what is the primary goal of initial management for this patient?

A. Observation with regular follow-up imaging
B. Referral for consideration of liver transplantation
C. Surgical resection of the primary gastric tumour
D. Liver directed therapy such as radioembolisation or ablation
E. Palliative systemic therapy to control symptoms and prolong survival
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male with a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presents for a routine follow-up. He is asymptomatic. A contrast-enhanced CT abdomen, axial view shown, was performed as part of a screening protocol. What is the MOST appropriate next step?

A. Initiate beta-blocker therapy
B. Prescribe a statin for lipid management
C. Start aspirin for antiplatelet therapy
D. Repeat imaging in 6-12 months
E. Refer for immediate surgical repair
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

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. Repeat imaging in 6-12 months
B. Start aspirin for secondary prevention
C. Refer to vascular surgery for elective repair
D. Prescribe a statin for lipid management
E. Initiate beta-blocker therapy
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Clinical aspects of mammary Paget's disease occurred on the thoracic wall where simple mastectomy was performed some years before.
Image by Monica Giovannini, Carmelo D'Atri, Quirino Piubello, Annamaria Molino CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

A 65-year-old woman presents with a several-month history of a slowly enlarging, mildly pruritic skin lesion on her left chest wall. She underwent a simple mastectomy on the left side for invasive ductal carcinoma 8 years ago. She denies systemic symptoms. Physical examination reveals the appearance shown. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Punch biopsy of the lesion
B. Arrange a CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis
C. Order a mammogram of the right breast
D. Reassure the patient and review in 6 months
E. Prescribe a high-potency topical steroid cream
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 70-year-old male undergoes a CT scan for investigation of chronic back pain. He has no history of abdominal pain or pulsatile mass. His blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg. The image provided is an axial view from this scan. Based on this finding and the patient's clinical status, what is the most appropriate next step in management according to current guidelines?

A. Schedule elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).
B. Arrange for surveillance ultrasound in 12 months.
C. Arrange for urgent surgical consultation.
D. Repeat CT angiography in 6 months.
E. No further follow-up is required.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 70-80 year old lady, currently managed for pulmonary embolism with Enoxaparin 40 mg daily, is found to have multiple pulmonary emboli. Her vitals are within normal limits. What would be the most appropriate next step?

A. Insert an IVC filter.
B. Switch to apixaban.
C. Switch to oral warfarin.
D. Increase Enoxaparin to therapeutic dose.
E. Start streptokinase infusion.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
CT scan of hepatocellular carcinoma, without and with IV contrast
Image by Zhenyu Pan, Guozi Yang, Tingting Yuan, Lihua Dong, Lihua Dong CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 68-year-old man with known alcoholic cirrhosis presents for routine surveillance. He reports mild fatigue. Liver function tests are within his baseline (Child-Pugh A). Alpha-fetoprotein is 150 ng/mL. The provided images are obtained. Considering the clinical context and the findings demonstrated in the images, which of the following treatment modalities is most likely to be considered first for this patient?

A. Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)
B. Surgical resection
C. Palliative care
D. Systemic targeted therapy (e.g., Sorafenib)
E. Liver transplantation assessment
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Clinical aspects of mammary Paget's disease occurred on the thoracic wall where simple mastectomy was performed some years before.
Image by Monica Giovannini, Carmelo D'Atri, Quirino Piubello, Annamaria Molino CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

A 68-year-old woman presents to her general practitioner with a persistent, pruritic rash on her chest wall. She reports a history of left mastectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma 8 years ago, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She denies any recent trauma or changes in soaps or detergents. Physical examination reveals the findings shown. A punch biopsy is performed. Which of the following immunohistochemical stains would most likely be positive in this patient's biopsy sample, supporting the suspected diagnosis?

A. Vimentin
B. Cytokeratin 7 (CK7)
C. Smooth muscle actin (SMA)
D. S-100
E. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Diverticular disease
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

A 68-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of worsening left lower quadrant abdominal pain, associated with subjective fever, chills, and nausea. He reports some recent constipation. His past medical history includes hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, both well-controlled on medication. On examination, his temperature is 38.5°C, pulse 95 bpm, BP 130/80 mmHg, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 98% on room air. Abdominal examination reveals tenderness and guarding in the left iliac fossa, with mild rebound tenderness. Bowel sounds are reduced. Digital rectal examination is unremarkable. Blood tests show a white cell count of 15 x 10^9/L (neutrophils 85%), haemoglobin 145 g/L, platelets 250 x 10^9/L, C-reactive protein of 120 mg/L. Urea, electrolytes, and creatinine are within normal limits. Liver function tests are normal. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed (image provided). Considering the clinical presentation and the specific findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following interventions is most likely to be required in addition to intravenous antibiotics and supportive care?

A. Administration of oral laxatives to relieve constipation
B. Urgent surgical resection of the affected bowel segment
C. Percutaneous drainage of a fluid collection
D. Placement of a nasogastric tube for bowel decompression
E. Endoscopic stenting of a colonic stricture
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 70-year-old man with severe COPD (FEV1 35%) presents with increased cough, purulent sputum, and dyspnoea over 48 hours. He uses salbutamol PRN and tiotropium daily. His oxygen saturation is 88% on room air. Chest X-ray shows hyperinflation but no new consolidation. What is the most appropriate initial management step?

A. Administer controlled oxygen therapy targeting SpO2 88-92%.
B. Perform arterial blood gas analysis.
C. Initiate intravenous antibiotics.
D. Prescribe high-dose inhaled corticosteroids.
E. Administer nebulised salbutamol and ipratropium bromide.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

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. Digoxin
B. Verapamil
C. Frusemide
D. Amlodipine
E. Eplerenone
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Elective abdominal ultrasonography of a 64 year old woman with past colicky pain but no current pain. It shows a mildly dilated common bile duct with what appears to be a gallstone (black arrow). The green and blue dots are blood flow, since the exam is done as a Doppler ultrasound to distinguish the bile duct from blood vessels.
Image by Mikael Häggström CC0 1.0 · Source

A 64-year-old woman reports intermittent RUQ pain. She denies jaundice or fever. An abdominal ultrasound was performed, image shown. Besides referral for surgery, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Start prophylactic antibiotics
B. Repeat ultrasound in 6 months
C. Administer ursodeoxycholic acid
D. Prescribe a low-fat diet
E. Arrange an MRCP
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

An 80-year-old male with a history of smoking and hypertension presents to his GP with mild, intermittent lower back pain. Physical examination is unremarkable. Routine blood tests are normal. A CT scan of the abdomen is performed to investigate the back pain. Considering the findings demonstrated in the provided image in the context of this patient's presentation, what is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Refer immediately for surgical consultation for elective repair.
B. Initiate aggressive blood pressure control and repeat imaging in 5 years.
C. Schedule regular surveillance imaging.
D. Perform urgent angiography to assess for rupture risk.
E. Discharge with advice to return if pain worsens significantly.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

A 65-year-old patient with a history of DVT presents with sudden onset dyspnoea and pleuritic chest pain. Examination is unremarkable except for mild tachypnoea. Wells score is 4. Which initial investigation is most appropriate in the diagnostic pathway?

A. D-dimer
B. Lower limb ultrasound
C. V/Q scan
D. CT Pulmonary Angiogram (CTPA)
E. Chest X-ray
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
X-ray of hiatal hernia
Image by Ahmed Farhat, Daryn Towle CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents with increasing shortness of breath and epigastric discomfort, particularly after meals. He has a history of well-controlled hypertension and takes aspirin daily. An X-ray is performed. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Prescribe a H2 receptor antagonist
B. Order a barium swallow study
C. Initiate a proton pump inhibitor and lifestyle modifications
D. Perform an upper endoscopy
E. Refer for surgical consultation for fundoplication
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
A contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 * 3.8 cm
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

An 68-year-old man attends his GP for a routine check-up. He has a history of well-controlled type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and smoked for 30 years, quitting 5 years ago. He denies any abdominal pain, back pain, or pulsatile sensation. Physical examination is unremarkable. As part of a cardiovascular risk assessment, an abdominal ultrasound is initially performed, which is inconclusive due to bowel gas. A follow-up contrast-enhanced CT scan is arranged. Considering the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. No further action required, reassure the patient
B. Immediate admission for urgent surgical assessment
C. Referral for elective surgical repair
D. Repeat CT scan in 3 months
E. Six-monthly abdominal ultrasound surveillance
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
CT scan of hepatocellular carcinoma, without and with IV contrast
Image by Zhenyu Pan, Guozi Yang, Tingting Yuan, Lihua Dong, Lihua Dong CC BY 4.0 · Source

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. Initiation of systemic targeted therapy
B. Referral for liver transplantation assessment
C. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation
D. Transarterial chemoembolisation
E. Surgical resection
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Diverticulitis in the left lower quadrant. There is outpouching of the colonic wall, wall thickening, and surrounding fat stranding.
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 65-year-old male presents with acute LLQ pain. The provided image was obtained. What dietary advice is most appropriate upon resolution of acute symptoms?

A. Low-residue diet
B. Gluten-free diet
C. Lactose-free diet
D. Elemental diet
E. High-fibre diet
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Upright X-ray demonstrating small bowel obstruction
Image by James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

A 72-year-old male presents with abdominal distension, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus for 48 hours. He has a history of prior bowel resection. Examination reveals a tympanitic abdomen and tenderness to palpation. His vitals are stable. An abdominal X-ray is performed, as shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Insert a nasogastric tube and administer intravenous fluids
B. Administer a Fleet enema
C. Order a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast
D. Administer oral contrast and repeat abdominal X-ray in 6 hours
E. Perform a flexible sigmoidoscopy to rule out sigmoid volvulus
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question
Mammogram microcalcifications in carcinoma in situ, CC, details
Image by Jmarchn CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Mrs. Eleanor Vance, a 62-year-old retired teacher, presents for her routine biennial screening mammogram through the BreastScreen Australia program. She has no personal history of breast disease, and her family history is negative for breast or ovarian cancer in first-degree relatives. She is otherwise healthy, with a history of diet-controlled type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis managed with paracetamol. She denies any breast pain, lumps, nipple discharge, or skin changes. Her last mammogram two years ago was reported as normal (BIRADS 1). Physical examination of both breasts and axillae is unremarkable. The current screening mammogram is performed. The image provided is a magnified view from the craniocaudal projection of the left breast, specifically highlighting an area that has been flagged for further assessment by the reporting radiologist due to a change from the previous study. Assuming that subsequent investigation of the area highlighted in the image confirms a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and the patient undergoes breast-conserving surgery, which of the following factors is most important in determining the need for adjuvant radiotherapy?

A. Patient's body mass index (BMI)
B. Margin status of the surgical excision specimen
C. Oestrogen receptor status of the DCIS cells
D. Ki-67 proliferation index of the DCIS cells
E. Presence of metastatic disease on staging scans
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question

An 82-year-old man with a history of COPD and mild dementia is brought to the emergency department by his family due to increased confusion over 24 hours. He has had a low-grade fever (37.8°C) and a mild cough for 3 days. On examination, he is drowsy but rousable. His oxygen saturation is 90% on room air. Chest auscultation reveals decreased breath sounds at the bases. A chest X-ray shows bilateral lower lobe infiltrates. His CURB-65 score is 3. Considering the patient's presentation and CURB-65 score, what is the most appropriate initial management plan?

A. Admission to hospital for observation and oral antibiotics.
B. Discharge home with supportive care and review in 24 hours.
C. Admission to ICU for mechanical ventilation and broad-spectrum antibiotics.
D. Outpatient management with oral antibiotics and close follow-up.
E. Admission to hospital with intravenous antibiotics.
Mark this as a high-quality question
Mark this as a poor-quality or problematic question