Practice targeted AMC-style multiple-choice questions on oncology.
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 58-year-old woman, otherwise healthy with no significant medical history, undergoes a routine screening mammogram. The report notes a new cluster of pleomorphic microcalcifications in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast, measuring approximately 1.5 cm, classified as BI-RADS 4. Clinical examination reveals no palpable mass or skin changes. She has no family history of breast cancer. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this finding?
A 3-year-old child is investigated for a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension and intermittent pain. On examination, a firm, non-tender mass is palpable in the upper abdomen. Initial blood tests reveal mild anaemia. Vital signs are stable. The provided image was obtained as part of the diagnostic evaluation. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated, which of the following investigations is most crucial for determining the extent of disease spread, a key factor in guiding subsequent management decisions for this paediatric patient?
A 45-year-old woman with a suspicious breast mass on mammography undergoes a biopsy, which confirms invasive ductal carcinoma. She is referred to an oncologist for further management. What is the next step in her management?
A 3-year-old presents with a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension and intermittent pain. Physical examination reveals a firm, non-tender mass in the upper abdomen. Blood tests show mild anaemia. Vitals are stable. This CT scan was performed as part of the initial workup. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following investigations is the most critical next step for accurate staging and risk stratification to guide appropriate management in this paediatric patient?
A 68-year-old woman presents with a persistent, pruritic rash on her chest wall at the site of a previous mastectomy performed 8 years ago for invasive ductal carcinoma. She completed adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. Examination reveals the area 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). The provided image was obtained as part of his staging workup. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 48-year-old woman, who emigrated from Southeast Asia 5 years ago, presents to her general practitioner with a 3-month history of a slowly enlarging lump in her neck. She reports mild fatigue and has lost approximately 3 kg unintentionally over the same period. She denies cough, fever, or night sweats. Her past medical history includes well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus managed with metformin. She is a non-smoker and drinks alcohol occasionally. On examination, she has a firm, non-tender, mobile mass measuring approximately 3x4 cm in the left anterior cervical chain. There are no other palpable lymph nodes. Chest auscultation is clear. Abdominal examination is unremarkable. Initial blood tests show a haemoglobin of 118 g/L (normal 120-150), white cell count 7.8 x 10^9/L (normal 4-11), neutrophils 4.5 x 10^9/L, lymphocytes 2.8 x 10^9/L, CRP 15 mg/L (normal <5). Liver and renal function tests are within normal limits. A neck ultrasound confirms a cluster of enlarged, hypoechoic lymph nodes in the left cervical region, the largest measuring 3.5 cm, with some central necrosis noted. A chest X-ray is clear. Given the clinical presentation and investigation findings, what is the most appropriate next diagnostic step?
A 62-year-old male with a history of chronic hepatitis C presents to his general practitioner for a routine check-up. He reports no new symptoms. His liver function tests from 6 months ago were within normal limits. However, recent blood work reveals an elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level of 600 ng/mL (normal <10 ng/mL). The GP orders a contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the liver, the images from which are shown. Based on the ultrasound findings and the patient's history, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 68-year-old woman presents with a persistent rash on her chest wall at the site of a previous mastectomy performed 8 years ago. She denies pain or itching. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
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 68-year-old former smoker with a 30 pack-year history presents to their GP with a 2-month history of persistent cough and increasing fatigue, noting a 3kg unintentional weight loss. Physical examination is unremarkable, and vital signs are stable. Routine blood tests, including full blood count and inflammatory markers, are within normal limits. A chest X-ray reveals a solitary pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe. Subsequent PET-CT imaging is performed as part of the diagnostic workup. Considering the findings demonstrated in the image provided in the context of this patient's presentation, which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
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). The provided image was obtained as part of his staging workup. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 3-year-old child presents with a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension and intermittent pain. On examination, a firm, non-tender mass is palpable in the upper abdomen. Initial blood tests reveal mild anaemia. Vital signs are stable. The provided image was obtained as part of the diagnostic evaluation. Based on the findings in the image and the clinical context, which of the following imaging modalities is most likely to provide critical information regarding potential metastatic disease, which is essential for accurate staging and treatment planning in this paediatric patient?
A 58-year-old male presents with fatigue and microcytic anemia. He denies overt bleeding but reports occasional dark stools. Colonoscopy reveals the image shown. Biopsies confirm adenocarcinoma. What is the MOST appropriate next investigation to stage the cancer?
A 4-year-old presents with abdominal distension and back pain for 2 months. Exam reveals a firm, fixed abdominal mass. Vitals are normal. An abdominal CT is performed (axial view shown). Which lab finding would MOST strongly support the suspected diagnosis?
A 62-year-old woman presents for her routine screening mammogram. She reports no breast symptoms, and physical examination is unremarkable. Her medical history includes well-controlled type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. She has no family history of breast cancer. The provided image is a magnified view from the craniocaudal projection of the right breast. Considering the clinical context and the findings demonstrated, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?
A 60-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer, treated with surgery and radiation 5 years ago, presents with new-onset back pain. Imaging reveals lytic lesions in the spine. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A patient has a pathogenic variant in MLH1 identified via genetic testing. What cancer screening is most strongly indicated?
A 28-year-old female presents with a chronic cough and fatigue. She has no significant past medical history. A chest PET-CT was performed as part of her workup. The axial view is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management, considering the image and her presentation?
A 28-year-old woman presents for a check-up, reporting occasional mild abdominal discomfort. Her father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 48, and his tumour showed microsatellite instability. A paternal aunt had endometrial cancer at 55. Physical exam is normal. What is the most appropriate next step regarding genetic testing?
A 65-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C and compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A) presents for routine surveillance. His alpha-fetoprotein is 250 ng/mL. He feels well. The provided images are obtained. Considering the clinical context and the findings demonstrated in the images, which of the following management strategies is most likely to be the initial approach for this patient?
A 58-year-old male with cirrhosis secondary to alcohol abuse presents for routine surveillance. His AFP is 25 ng/mL. A contrast-enhanced ultrasound is performed, as shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 45-year-old man presents to his GP with a 3-month history of gradually enlarging, painless swelling in the left side of his neck. He denies fever, night sweats, or weight loss. He emigrated from a region with high tuberculosis prevalence five years ago and has no known history of TB exposure or prior testing. On examination, there are multiple firm, non-tender, discrete lymph nodes in the left posterior triangle of the neck, the largest measuring about 3 cm. There are no other palpable nodes or organomegaly. His chest X-ray is clear. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic step?
A 70-year-old male with known gastric MANEC presents with worsening jaundice and ascites. The provided CT scan was performed. Which of the following serum markers would be MOST useful in monitoring disease progression in this patient?
A 63-year-old man presents to his general practitioner with a several-year history of worsening symptoms. He describes significant heartburn and regurgitation, particularly when lying down, which is only partially relieved by high-dose proton pump inhibitors. He has also noticed increasing difficulty swallowing solid food and occasionally liquids, sometimes accompanied by coughing fits after eating. He reports feeling full very quickly after starting a meal and has lost approximately 5 kg unintentionally over the past year. His past medical history includes osteoarthritis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. He is a non-smoker and drinks alcohol occasionally. Physical examination is unremarkable. Routine blood tests, including full blood count, electrolytes, and liver function tests, are within normal limits. A CT scan of the chest and upper abdomen was performed as part of the workup for his symptoms, and a representative axial image is shown. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the image, which of the following represents the MOST appropriate definitive management strategy for this patient?
A 65-year-old male with known alcoholic cirrhosis undergoes surveillance. The provided contrast-enhanced ultrasound was obtained. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
A 55-year-old man with prostate cancer and bony metastases is experiencing severe pain and is not responding to strong analgesia. He is reluctant to use NSAIDs. What is the next step?
A 58-year-old male presents with concerns about breast enlargement over the past year. He denies pain or nipple discharge. He takes no medications and reports no significant past medical history. Examination reveals the findings in the image. What is the MOST appropriate initial investigation?
A 67-year-old woman presents to her GP with fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats over the past two months. She has a history of smoking and hypertension. On examination, she has palpable lymphadenopathy in the cervical and axillary regions. Blood tests reveal a hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and a peripheral blood smear showing atypical lymphocytes. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A 72-year-old male presents with a 4-month history of increasing fatigue, anorexia, and a 10 kg weight loss. He reports occasional nausea but no vomiting or abdominal pain. His vital signs are stable. Physical examination reveals mild jaundice and palpable hepatomegaly. Blood tests show Hb 105 g/L, elevated AST/ALT, and a mildly raised bilirubin. An upper endoscopy showed a large gastric mass, with histology pending. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis was performed. Considering the clinical context and the findings on the provided imaging, what is the most likely implication for this patient's overall management strategy?
A 3-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with a one-week history of abdominal pain, decreased appetite, and irritability. His parents also report that he has been increasingly tired and pale. On examination, the child is noted to have a palpable abdominal mass. A CT scan of the abdomen is performed, the axial view is shown. Based on the image and clinical presentation, which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 65-year-old male presents with fatigue and occult blood in stool. Colonoscopy reveals the lesion shown. Biopsy confirms adenocarcinoma. What is the MOST appropriate next investigation to determine disease stage?
A 35-year-old woman with a family history of BRCA1-associated breast cancer is considering genetic testing. She is asymptomatic and has no personal history of cancer. What is the MOST appropriate initial step in her management?
A 62-year-old male with a history of hepatitis C presents with new onset ascites and right upper quadrant pain. His AFP is elevated. A CT scan of the abdomen with and without contrast is performed, as shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
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 62-year-old woman undergoes routine screening mammography. She is asymptomatic with no relevant family history of breast cancer. Physical examination is unremarkable. The provided image is a detail from her mammogram. Based on the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?
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 62-year-old male presents with a 3-month history of rectal bleeding and altered bowel habits. Colonoscopy was performed, and a representative image is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 35-year-old man presents to the clinic with a 3-month history of fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats. He has no significant past medical history and does not take any medications. On examination, he has palpable cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy. A lymph node biopsy reveals Reed-Sternberg cells. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A 58-year-old male with a 15-year history of chronic hepatitis B infection and established cirrhosis presents for a routine surveillance appointment. He reports feeling generally well, with no significant weight loss, abdominal pain, or jaundice. He denies alcohol use. On examination, his vital signs are stable. He has mild palmar erythema but no ascites or peripheral oedema. Liver span is normal. Recent blood tests show platelet count 120 x 10^9/L, albumin 35 g/L, INR 1.2, total bilirubin 20 µmol/L, ALT 40 U/L, AST 55 U/L, creatinine 80 µmol/L. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has risen from 50 µg/L six months ago to 450 µg/L today. A triphasic CT scan of the abdomen was performed as part of the surveillance protocol, axial views of which are provided. Considering the patient's clinical history, laboratory trends, and the findings demonstrated on the provided imaging, which of the following represents the MOST appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?
A 68-year-old woman presents with a persistent, pruritic rash on her chest wall at the site of a previous mastectomy performed 8 years ago for invasive ductal carcinoma. She completed adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation at that time. Examination reveals the area shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 60-year-old man, post-chemotherapy, presents with fever and abdominal pain. The images are shown. What is the MOST appropriate initial therapy?
A 68-year-old woman presents with a persistent rash following a mastectomy 5 years prior. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 72-year-old presents with recent onset tenesmus and passage of mucus. He has lost 4kg over 2 months. Colonoscopy was performed, and a representative image is shown. Biopsies are pending but the appearance is highly suspicious for malignancy. What is the MOST appropriate initial investigation to assess for metastatic disease?
A 62-year-old male presents with a 3-month history of rectal bleeding and altered bowel habits. Colonoscopy was performed, and a concerning lesion was identified. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 65-year-old male presents with a 2-month history of fatigue, poor appetite, and 5kg weight loss. He reports mild upper abdominal discomfort. Physical examination is unremarkable. Initial blood tests show mild anaemia. An upper endoscopy revealed a suspicious gastric lesion, with biopsy results pending. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis was performed. Given the clinical presentation and the findings on the provided imaging, which of the following statements regarding this patient's likely prognosis and management is most accurate?
A 35-year-old woman with a strong family history of breast cancer (mother and sister diagnosed before age 40) is concerned about her risk. What is the most appropriate genetic testing for this patient?
A 55-year-old woman presents to her general practitioner with a 3-month history of increasing abdominal bloating, early satiety, and a vague, intermittent dull ache in her lower abdomen. She reports a 5 kg weight loss over the same period, which she attributes to reduced appetite. Her last menstrual period was 5 years ago. She has a past medical history of well-controlled hypertension and osteoarthritis. She is on perindopril and paracetamol as needed. On physical examination, her vital signs are stable (BP 130/80 mmHg, HR 72 bpm, RR 16/min, Temp 36.8°C). Abdominal examination reveals mild distension and a firm, non-tender mass palpable in the suprapubic and left iliac fossa regions, estimated to be about 8 cm in size. Bowel sounds are normal. Pelvic examination is deferred due to patient discomfort and preference for imaging first. Routine blood tests, including full blood examination, urea and electrolytes, liver function tests, and C-reactive protein, are all within normal reference ranges. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is performed to investigate her symptoms, an axial image from which is shown. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings on the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient?
A 70-year-old male with cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD presents for routine surveillance. A new 3 cm lesion was found in segment VIII on ultrasound, with AFP 45. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed, with representative images shown. Considering the clinical context and the findings demonstrated, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in this patient's management?