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  • Question 1 - A 11-year-old boy is admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea and lethargy. There...

    Correct

    • A 11-year-old boy is admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea and lethargy. There is a known local outbreak of E coli 0157:H7, and his initial bloods show evidence of acute renal failure. Given the likely diagnosis, which one of the following investigation results would be expected?

      Your Answer: Fragmented red blood cells

      Explanation:

      The likely diagnosis in this case is Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which is generally seen in young children presenting with a triad of symptoms, namely: acute renal failure, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, and thrombocytopenia. The typical cause of HUS is ingestion of a strain of Escherichia coli. The laboratory results will usually include fragmented RBCs, decreased serum haptoglobin, reduced platelet count, nonspecific WBC changes, and normal coagulation tests (PTT included).

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      20.4
      Seconds
  • Question 2 - A 64-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer has developed progressive back pain over...

    Correct

    • A 64-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer has developed progressive back pain over the last 2 days. She also reports of weakness of her lower limbs and difficulty in walking. On examination, she has reduced power in both legs and increased tone associated with brisk knee and ankle reflexes. There is some sensory loss in the lower limbs and feet but perianal sensation is normal.

      What is the most likely diagnosis?

      Your Answer: Spinal cord compression at T10

      Explanation:

      The upper motor neurone signs in this patient point towards a diagnosis of spinal cord compression above the level of L1 and rules out cauda equina syndrome.

      Spinal cord compression is an oncological emergency and affects up to 5% of cancer patients. Extradural compression accounts for the majority of cases, usually due to vertebral body metastases. One of the most common causes of spinal cord compression is osteoarthritis. It is also more commonly seen in patients with lung, breast, or prostate cancer.

      Clinical features include:
      1. Back pain: the earliest and most common symptom, may worsen on lying down or coughing
      2. Lower limb weakness
      3. Sensory changes: sensory loss and numbness
      4. Neurological signs: depending on the level of the lesion.
      Lesions above L1 usually result in upper motor neurone signs in the legs. Lesions below L1 usually cause lower motor neurone signs in the legs and perianal numbness. Tendon reflexes are increased below the level of the lesion and absent at the level of the lesion.

      Management options are:
      1. High-dose oral dexamethasone
      2. Urgent MRI for consideration of radiotherapy or surgery

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      15.3
      Seconds
  • Question 3 - Which one of the following features is least associated with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia? ...

    Incorrect

    • Which one of the following features is least associated with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia?

      Your Answer: Hepatosplenomegaly

      Correct Answer: Bone pain

      Explanation:

      Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (also called lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma) is an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma seen in older people. It is a lymphoplasmacytoid malignancy characterised by the secretion of a monoclonal IgM paraprotein. Its features include weight loss and lethargy; monoclonal IgM paraproteinemia; hyperviscosity syndrome leading to bilateral central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and hence, visual disturbances; hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy; and cryoglobulinemia. It is not, however, associated with bone pain.

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      15.1
      Seconds
  • Question 4 - A 74-year-old patient presents with back pain, pallor and palpitations. Blood exams reveal...

    Correct

    • A 74-year-old patient presents with back pain, pallor and palpitations. Blood exams reveal multiple plasma cells in the peripheral smear. What is the most likely diagnosis?

      Your Answer: Multiple myeloma

      Explanation:

      Multiple myeloma presents with bone pain usually in the back or at the level of the ribs. Pathological fractures are common. The patient usually experiences fatigue, paleness, weakness, dyspnoea and gastro-intestinal complaints such as nausea and constipation. Characteristic for this case is the presence of many plasma cells in the peripheral blood smear.

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      8.5
      Seconds
  • Question 5 - A 72-year-old man, following a fall at home, presents to his GP with...

    Incorrect

    • A 72-year-old man, following a fall at home, presents to his GP with acute localised chest pain, associated chronic postural lower back pain and chronic fatigue. On examination, he appears mildly anaemic and dehydrated, and has bruises over his arms and legs despite denying previous trauma. Furthermore, he has marked tenderness over his left lower rib cage, compatible with injured ribs, and tenderness over his lower lumbar spine. The rest of his clinical examination is normal.

      In order to establish a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, based on the patient's symptomatology, which of the following combination of criteria is required?

      Your Answer: Hypercalcemia and a monoclonal band on serum electrophoresis

      Correct Answer: >30% plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy and radiographic survey demonstrating lytic lesions

      Explanation:

      Diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) is based on the confirmation of (a) one major criterion and one minor criterion or (b) three minor criteria in an individual who has signs or symptoms of multiple myeloma.

      Major criteria:
      1. >30% plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy
      2. Monoclonal band of paraprotein on electrophoresis: >35g/L for IgG, 20g/L for IgA, or >1g of light chains excreted in the urine per day

      Minor criteria:
      1. 10-30% plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy
      2. Abnormal monoclonal band but levels less than listed above
      3. Lytic bone lesions observed radiographically
      4. Immunosuppression

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      40.8
      Seconds
  • Question 6 - A 32-year-old female who is 37 weeks pregnant presents with a swollen, painful...

    Correct

    • A 32-year-old female who is 37 weeks pregnant presents with a swollen, painful right calf. A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is confirmed on Doppler scan.

      What should be the preferred anticoagulant?

      Your Answer: Subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)

      Explanation:

      Subcutaneous (S/C) low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a preferred anticoagulant in pregnancy. Warfarin is contraindicated due to its teratogenic effects, especially in the first trimester and at term.

      Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state with the majority of VTE incidents occurring in the last trimester.

      Hypercoagulability in pregnancy is caused by:
      1. Increase in factors VII, VIII, X, and fibrinogen
      2. Decrease in protein S
      3. Uterus pressing on IVC causing venous stasis in legs

      Management options include:
      1. S/C LMWH preferred to IV heparin (less bleeding and thrombocytopaenia)
      2. Warfarin contraindicated

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      8.1
      Seconds
  • Question 7 - A 60-year-old man complains of weight loss, fatigue, fever and abdominal discomfort. Abdominal...

    Correct

    • A 60-year-old man complains of weight loss, fatigue, fever and abdominal discomfort. Abdominal ultrasound reveals massive splenomegaly and the lab results return the following: WBC=127, Hgb=8.7, Plt=138. Basophils were also found on the peripheral blood film. What is the most likely diagnosis?

      Your Answer: CML

      Explanation:

      CML is a myeloproliferative disorder involving neoplastic proliferation of mature myeloid cells, especially granulocytes and their precursors. The non-acute symptoms of marked splenomegaly and anaemia accompanied by of fever and abdominal discomfort rules out the other conditions.

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      24.7
      Seconds
  • Question 8 - A 60-year-old man has consistently elevated levels of white blood cells in the...

    Correct

    • A 60-year-old man has consistently elevated levels of white blood cells in the blood, despite several courses of antibiotics.

      His full blood count done (FBC) today shows:
      Hb: 9.1 g/dL
      Plts: 250 x 10^9/L
      WCC: 32.2 x 10^9/L
      Neutrophils: 28.1 x 10^9/L

      However, he has at no point shown signs of any infection. The consultant suggests contacting the haematology department for ascertaining the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score.

      Out of the following, which related condition would have a high LAP score?

      Your Answer: Leukemoid reaction

      Explanation:

      Leukemoid reaction has a high LAP score.

      Leukemoid reaction refers to leucocytosis occurring as a physiological response to stress or infection which may be mistaken for leukaemia, especially chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Leucocytosis occurs, initially, because of accelerated release of cells from the bone marrow and is associated with increased count of more immature neutrophils in the blood (left-shift). In order to differentiate, LAP score is used. Leukocytic alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is high in a leukemoid reaction but low in CML.

      LAP score is high in:
      1. Leukemoid reaction
      2. Infections
      3. Myelofibrosis
      4. Polycythaemia rubra vera
      5. Steroids, Cushing’s syndrome
      6. Pregnancy, oral contraceptive pill

      LAP score is low in:
      1. CML
      2. Pernicious anaemia
      3. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH)
      4. Infectious mononucleosis

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      30.6
      Seconds
  • Question 9 - A 41-year-old woman has been complaining of tiredness over the past few weeks....

    Incorrect

    • A 41-year-old woman has been complaining of tiredness over the past few weeks. She has angular stomatitis but no koilonychia. What is the most probable cell type to be seen in her blood film?

      Your Answer: Microcytes

      Correct Answer: Macrocytes

      Explanation:

      This is a case of Vit. B12 or folic acid deficiency. The anaemia with angular stomatitis is highly suggestive of Vit. B12 or folate deficiency. The absence of koilonychia excludes Iron deficiency anaemia.

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      13.2
      Seconds
  • Question 10 - Regarding haemochromatosis, which of the following is true? ...

    Correct

    • Regarding haemochromatosis, which of the following is true?

      Your Answer: Haemochromatosis may be treated with therapeutic phlebotomy

      Explanation:

      Haemochromatosis is an abnormally high rate of the production of haemoglobin. It is an autosomal recessive disease copied on chromosome 6. It is associated with hepatic disorders, cardiac diseases and skin pigmentation. It is treated by regular venesection.

    • This question is part of the following fields:

      • Haematology & Oncology
      11.5
      Seconds

SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY

Haematology & Oncology (7/10) 70%
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