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