Neoplasia — MCQs

A previously healthy 48-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 3-week history of progressively worsening jaundice, generalized itching, and epigastric discomfort. He also complains of nausea and loss of appetite. His stools have looked like clay for the past week. He has returned from a vacation in Thailand one week ago, where he got a new tattoo. He is sexually active with multiple partners and does not use protection. His vital signs are within normal limits. Examination shows jaundice and scleral icterus. Superficial excoriations are seen on all limbs. Abdominal examination shows no abnormalities. Serum studies show a fasting glucose level of 198 mg/dL, total bilirubin concentration of 10.6 mg/dL, direct bilirubin concentration of 9.8 mg/dl, and alkaline phosphatase activity of 450 U/L. Abdominal ultrasonography shows dilation of the biliary and pancreatic ducts and a 3-cm hypoechoic solid mass with irregular margins in the head of the pancreas. An elevation of which of the following serum findings is most specific for this patient's condition?

A 70-year-old retired police officer is being evaluated for fatigue. A peripheral smear shows extremely elevated numbers of immature myeloid cells, which are positive for myeloperoxidase and a translocation t(15,17). Which of the following statements is true regarding his condition?

A 63-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-month history of progressive fatigue. He also has shortness of breath and palpitations, which worsen on physical exertion and improve with rest. He has had intermittent constipation, low-grade fever, and generalized myalgia for the past 3 months. He has had a 10.4-kg (23-lb) weight loss over the past 4 months despite no change in appetite. His temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), pulse is 108/min, respirations are 16/min, and blood pressure is 130/78 mm Hg. Examination shows pale conjunctivae. His hemoglobin concentration is 9.1 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume is 70 μm3, and serum ferritin is 12 ng/mL. Test of the stool for occult blood is positive. Colonoscopy shows a 1.7-cm wide exophytic ulcer with irregular, bleeding edges in the ascending colon. Which of the following biopsy findings would have been the greatest predisposing factor for developing this patient's current condition?

A 57-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his wife 20 minutes after having had a seizure. He has had recurrent headaches and dizziness for the past 2 weeks. An MRI of the brain shows multiple, round, well-demarcated lesions in the brain parenchyma at the junction between gray and white matter. This patient's brain lesions are most likely comprised of cells that originate from which of the following organs?

A 55-year old man living in Midwest USA comes in complaining of painless hematuria for the past week. He denies dysuria but complains of fatigue and lethargy at work. He has lost about 9.0 kg (20.0 lb) in the past 6 months. He drinks 1–2 beers on the weekends over the past 10 years but denies smoking. He has worked at a plastic chemical plant for the past 30 years and has never been out of the country. His father died of a heart attack at age 62 and his mother is still alive and well. There is a distant history of pancreatic cancer, but he can not remember the specifics. His vitals are stable and his physical exam is unremarkable. Urinary analysis is positive for RBCs. A cystoscopy is performed and finds a pedunculated mass projecting into the bladder lumen. A biopsy shows malignant cells. Which of the following is the most concerning risk factor for this patient’s condition?

A 62-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider with anal bleeding. She reports a 4-month history of intermittent anal bleeding that was initially mild but has increased in severity over the past 2 weeks. She also reports having intermittent mucoid discharge from her anus. She denies any pain with defecation but does experience occasional constipation that has been increasing in frequency over the past month. Her past medical history is notable for hypertension and breast cancer status-post-mastectomy and radiation therapy. She takes enalapril. She has a 15-pack-year smoking history and drinks 3-4 glasses of wine per week. Her temperature is 98.4°F (36.9°C), blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg, pulse is 85/min, and respirations are 18/min. On exam, she appears pale but is pleasant and conversational. Digital rectal examination reveals a small mass within the anal canal. Anoscopy demonstrates an erythematous irregular mass arising from the mucosa proximal to the dentate line. Which of the following histologic findings is most likely to be seen in this patient’s lesion?

A 72-year-old man comes to the physician because of several episodes of dark urine over the past 2 months. He has had a 6 kg (13.2-lb) weight loss over the past 3 months despite no changes in appetite. He has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 30 years. A CT scan shows a heterogeneous enhancing mass arising from the left renal pelvis. Pathologic examination of the lesion is most likely to show which of the following findings?

A 45-year-old African American male presents to his primary care physician complaining of difficulty swallowing that was initially limited to solids but has now progressed to liquids. Biopsy of the esophagus reveals dysplastic cells, but does not show evidence of glands or increased mucin. Which of the following most contributed to his condition?

A 56-year-old woman presents to a physician for evaluation of a lump in her left breast. She noticed the lump last week while taking a shower. She says that the lump seemed to be getting larger, which worried her. The lump is not painful. The medical history is unremarkable. She has smoked cigarettes for the last 30 years. On examination, bilateral small nodules are present that are non-tender and immobile. A mammography confirms the masses and fine needle aspiration cytology of the lesions reveals malignant cells arranged in a row of cells. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 60-year-old man presents to his physician as part of his routine annual medical check-up. He has no specific complaints but mentions that he has often experienced fatigue over the past few months. His past medical history is noncontributory. On physical examination, his temperature is 37.2°C (98.8°F), pulse rate is 84/min, blood pressure is 130/86 mm Hg, and respiratory rate is 18/min. On general examination, mild pallor is present. Palpation of the abdomen reveals splenomegaly, which extends 6.35 cm (2.5 in) below the left costal margin. There is no hepatomegaly. Laboratory studies show the following values: Hemoglobin 9.7 g/dL Total leukocyte count 30,000/mm3 Granulocytes 83% Lymphocytes 10% Eosinophils 5% Basophils 1% Monocytes 1% Platelet count 700,000/mm3 The physician orders a bone marrow biopsy analysis of hematopoietic cells. The report shows the presence of a t(9;22)(q34; q11) translocation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?