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Question 1
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A 65-year-old man is referred to the oncology clinic with progressively worsening lower back pain for the last three months and history of weight loss for the past eight months. MRI lumbar spine confirms the suspicion of bone metastasis.
What is the most likely primary tumour?Your Answer: Prostate carcinoma
Explanation:Prostate cancer is the most common primary tumour that metastasises to the bone.
Most common tumours causing bone metastasis (in descending order):
1. Prostate (32%)
2. Breast (22%)
3. Kidneys (16%)
4. Lungs
5. ThyroidMost common sites of bone metastasis (in descending order):
1. Spine
2. Pelvis
3. Ribs
4. Skull
5. Long bones -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 2
Correct
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A 32-year-old woman, with a history of infertility, presented with postoperative bleeding from her abdominal wound. Her full blood count (FBC) and blood film showed hyperleukocytosis and the presence of promyelocytes, along with the following:
Hb: 9.2g/dL
Plts: 932 x 10^9/L
INR: 1.4 (Coagulation profile)
What should be the next step of management?Your Answer: Give fresh frozen plasma
Explanation:The patient has acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) with associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Although the platelet count is high, platelet function is ineffective.
Patients may present, as in this case, with severe bleeding, and the most appropriate emergency treatment would be administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 3
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A 19-year-old male has gone to his local doctor's surgery complaining of weight loss, an increased thirst, and urinating more frequently. His father, grandfather, and both of his sisters have all been diagnosed with DM. What type of DM does this patient most likely suffer from?
Your Answer: MODY
Explanation:The key features of MODY are: being diagnosed with DM under the age of 15, having a parent with DM, and DM in two or more generations of the family.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 4
Correct
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A 74-year-old female complains of coarse tremors. Which of the following drugs may be the cause?
Your Answer: Lithium
Explanation:The most common adverse effect of lithium is fine hand tremors. It is also an early sign of toxicity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pharmacology
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Question 5
Correct
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A 66-year-old woman comes to you with a tender lump near the anal opening and a fever. She has history of T1DM for the last 20 years. What treatment should she get?
Your Answer: I&D + antibiotics
Explanation:Surgical incision and drainage is the most common treatment for anal abscesses. About 50% of patients with an anal abscess will develop a complication called a fistula. Diabetes is a risk factor for an anal abscess.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 6
Correct
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A 20-year-old student nurse was admitted after her third collapse in recent months. She was noted to have a blood sugar of 0.9 mmol/l on finger-prick testing and responded well to intravenous glucose therapy.
Venous blood taken at the same showed a markedly raised insulin level, but her C-peptide levels were normal.
What diagnosis fits best with this clinical picture?Your Answer: Self-administration of a short-acting insulin
Explanation:The patient has hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycaemia, but her C-peptide levels are normal. This is strongly suggestive of the fact that she is self-administering insulin.
In Insulinoma, common diagnostic criteria include:
– blood glucose level < 50 mg/dl with hypoglycaemic symptoms,
– relief of symptoms after eating
– absence of sulfonylurea on plasma assays.
The classic diagnostic criteria include the demonstration of the following during a supervised fast:
Increased plasma insulin level
Increased C peptide level
Increased proinsulin level
However, the patient has normal C-peptide levels.
In type-1 diabetes mellitus, insulin and C-peptide levels are low. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 7
Correct
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A 30-year-old previously well female presented with yellowish discolouration of her sclera. Investigations revealed low haemoglobin, a retic count of 8% and the occasional spherocyte on blood film. Which of the following is the most appropriate single investigation?
Your Answer: Direct coombs test
Explanation:A low haemoglobin and a high retic count is suggestive of a haemolytic anaemia. Occasional spherocytes can be seen on blood film during haemolysis and it is not a specific finding. Direct Coombs test will help to identify autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, where there are antibodies attached to RBCs.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 8
Correct
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A 28-year-old male was screened for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM). His father has passed away recently at the age of 48 and found to have HOCM during post mortem examination. On examination of this patient his BP was 142/84 mmHg and pulse rate was 68 bpm which was regular. There was a mid systolic murmur and a double apex beat. Echocardiography showed a septal wall thickness of 3.3 cm. What is the factor most closely linked to his 20 year risk of sudden cardiac death?
Your Answer: Septal wall thickness of 3.3 cm
Explanation:There are five prognostic factors which indicate poor prognosis in HOCM:
-family history of HOCM-related sudden cardiac death
-unexplained recent syncope
-large left ventricular wall thickness (MLVWT > 30 mm)
-multiple bursts of nsVT on ambulatory electrocardiography
-hypotensive or attenuated blood pressure response to exercise -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 9
Incorrect
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Raloxifene is used in the treatment of osteoporosis, which of the following best describes it?
Your Answer: A bisphosphonate
Correct Answer: A selective oestrogen receptor modulator
Explanation:Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen-receptor modulator (SERM) that has been approved for use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
A SERM interacts with oestrogen receptors, functioning as an agonist in some tissues and an antagonist in other tissues. Because of their unique pharmacologic properties, these agents can achieve the desired effects of oestrogen without the possible stimulatory effects on the breasts or uterus. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 10
Correct
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A 70-year-old female from a nursing home presented in the emergency department with complaints of headache, blurred vision and confused state for the last 4 to 5 days. On examination, she has several bruises on her head. Which of the following is the most likely cause behind the confused state of this patient?
Your Answer: Subdural hematoma
Explanation:Bruises on her head are suggestive of a head injury. Confused state with a headache and blurred vision are due to a subdural hematoma.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 11
Correct
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A 40-year-old man is referred by his general practitioner. He has a family history of premature cardiovascular disease.
Cholesterol testing reveals triglyceride levels of 4.2 mmol/l and a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level of 0.8 mmol/l.
You advise him to start fibrate therapy.
Which of the following best describes the mode of action for fibrates?Your Answer: They are inhibitors of lipoprotein lipase activity and increase HDL synthesis
Explanation:Treatment with fibrates, a widely used class of lipid-modifying agents, results in a substantial decrease in plasma triglycerides and is usually associated with a moderate decrease in LDL cholesterol and an increase in HDL cholesterol concentrations.
Evidence from studies is available to implicate 5 major mechanisms underlying the above-mentioned modulation of lipoprotein phenotypes by fibrates:
1. Induction of lipoprotein lipolysis.
2. Induction of hepatic fatty acid (FA) uptake and reduction of hepatic triglyceride production.
3. Increased removal of LDL particles. Fibrate treatment results in the formation of LDL with a higher affinity for the LDL receptor, which is thus catabolized more rapidly.
4. Reduction in neutral lipid (cholesteryl ester and triglyceride) exchange between VLDL and HDL may result from decreased plasma levels of TRL.
5. Increase in HDL production and stimulation of reverse cholesterol transport. Fibrates increase the production of apoA-I and apoA-II in the liver, which may contribute to the increase of plasma HDL concentrations and a more efficient reverse cholesterol transport. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 12
Correct
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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: 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.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 13
Correct
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A 41-year-old female is referred to medical assessment unit by her physician for querying thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) after she presented with a temperature of 38.9C. Her subsequent urea and electrolytes showed deteriorating renal function with a creatinine 3 times greater than her baseline.
What is the underlying pathophysiology of TTP?Your Answer: Failure to cleave von Willebrand factor normally
Explanation:Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterised by the von Willebrand factor (vWF) microthrombi within the vessels of multiple organs. In this condition, the ADAMTS13 metalloprotease enzyme which is responsible for the breakdown of vWF multimer, is deficient, causing its build-up and leading to platelet clots that then decreases the circulating platelets, leading to bleeding in the patient.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 14
Incorrect
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A 50-year-old man presented with polyuria and orthostatic hypotension. Which of the following medications is the most likely to be associated with this condition?
Your Answer: Atenolol
Correct Answer: Bendroflumethiazide
Explanation:Bendroflumethiazide is known to cause photosensitive rash as part of an allergic reaction during which the person might also have wheezing, chest tightness or dyspnoea. The rash typically occurs on the areas of body exposed to the sun, like the back, hands, arms and legs.
Comparatively, digoxin produces a rash that comprises of nearly the whole body.
Atenolol may also cause skin rash but that is not photosensitive.
Clopidogrel might produce an non-photosensitive urticarial rash.
Ezetimibe causes a severe allergic reaction but only rarely. This rash is also non-photosensitive and is in the form of blisters, associated with itching. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Pharmacology
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Question 15
Correct
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Which one of the following is not associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis?
Your Answer: Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Explanation:There are two types of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); simple fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Simple fatty liver and NASH are two separate conditions.
Simple fatty liver, also called non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), is a form of NAFLD in which you have fat in your liver but little or no inflammation or liver cell damage. Simple fatty liver typically does not progress to cause liver damage or complications.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
NASH is a form of NAFLD in which you have hepatitis and liver cell damage, in addition to fat in your liver. Inflammation and liver cell damage can cause fibrosis, or scarring, of the liver. NASH may lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Type I diabetes is not associated with NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), but type II diabetes is. Hyperlipidaemia, obesity, sudden weight loss/starvation and jejunoileal bypass are all associated with NASH. This is the most common cause of liver disease in the developed world. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Hepatobiliary System
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Question 16
Correct
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A 45-year-old man who had a liver transplant just over 3 months ago, now has primary sclerosing cholangitis. He complains of fever, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, which has come on over the last week. He has a platelet count of 60 x 109/L and alanine transaminase (ALT) of 300 U/L with a normal bilirubin.
He is taking tacrolimus and prednisolone for immunosuppression, and tells you that he recently stopped taking valganciclovir.
What is the most likely diagnosis?Your Answer: Donor-acquired cytomegalovirus
Explanation:The fact that he has recently stopped taking his valganciclovir, anti-viral, is key to the answer to this question. This makes the answer quite plainly donor-acquired CMV infection over all of the other answer choices. He needs to stay on prophylaxis against this, particularly in the first 3 months after transplant. Symptoms and presentations of CMV infection can include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, pneumonitis, hepatitis, hematologic abnormalities, retinitis, and esophagitis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Hepatobiliary System
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Question 17
Correct
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Which of the following drugs does not cause broncho-dilatation?
Your Answer: Atenolol
Explanation:Atenolol is a beta-selective (cardio selective) adrenoceptor blocking drug without partial agonist or membrane stabilising activity. Higher doses of Atenolol causes broncho-constriction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pharmacology
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Question 18
Correct
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Cocaine abuse has many serious side effects. Which of the following is not a notable side effect of chronic cocaine abuse?
Your Answer: Hyponatraemia
Explanation:Chronic cocaine abuse can produce many serious side effects such as erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, hypersomnia, anxiety, hallucinations etc.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 19
Incorrect
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A 48-year-old woman with chronic pancreatitis due to gallstones presents with a macrocytic anaemia. The anaemia is most likely caused by:
Your Answer: Folate deficiency
Correct Answer: Vitamin B12 deficiency
Explanation:Vit b12 requires trypsin enzyme to split it from its R-binders in order to make the vitamin bind to intrinsic factor required for absorption. In alcoholic patients, chronic pancreatitis is very common. Other causes related to alcoholism can be folate deficiency or bone marrow dysfunction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 20
Correct
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A 62-year-old man presents with haematuria. Cystoscopy is carried out which reveals transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Occupational exposure to which of the following is a recognised risk factor for bladder cancer?Your Answer: Aniline dye
Explanation:The risk factors for bladder cancer are:
1. Smoking
2. Exposure to aniline dyes in the printing and textile industry
3. Exposure to rubber manufacturing
4. Cyclophosphamides
5. Schistosomiasis. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 21
Incorrect
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A 75-year-old gentleman sustained an injury to his arm after falling on outstretched hands. An X-ray confirms the fracture of the distal radius with backward shift of the distal fragment. The name given to this kind of deformity is?
Your Answer: Coxa vara
Correct Answer: Dinner fork deformity
Explanation:Dinner fork deformity is the name given to the fracture of distal radius, in which the distal fragment is dorsally angulated, displaced and sometimes impacted. Coxa vara is the hip deformity when angle between the head and shaft of the femur is reduced to more than 120 degree. A garden fork deformity is a reversed Colles fracture.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A 35-year-old man was brought to the ER with acute confusion. He's a known case of bipolar disorder under treatment with mood stabilizers. Blood investigations revealed lithium toxicity. A decision is made to start the patient on sodium bicarbonate. What is the rationale behind the use of sodium bicarbonate in this patient?
Your Answer: Myocardial stabiliser
Correct Answer: Increases urine alkalinity
Explanation:The rationale behind the use of sodium bicarbonate is that it increases the alkalinity of the urine promoting lithium excretion. The preferred treatment in severe cases would be haemodialysis.
Lithium is a mood-stabilizing drug used most commonly prophylactically in bipolar disorder but also as an adjunct in refractory depression. It has a very narrow therapeutic range (0.4-1.0 mmol/L) and a long plasma half-life being excreted primarily by the kidneys. Lithium toxicity generally occurs following concentrations > 1.5 mmol/L.
Toxicity may be precipitated by dehydration, renal failure, diuretics (especially Bendroflumethiazide), ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs and metronidazole.
Features of toxicity
Coarse tremor (a fine tremor is seen in therapeutic levels)
Hyperreflexia
Acute confusion
Seizure
ComaManagement
Mild-moderate toxicity may respond to volume resuscitation with normal saline
Haemodialysis may be needed in severe toxicity
Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used but there is limited evidence to support this. By increasing the alkalinity of the urine it promotes lithium excretion. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 23
Incorrect
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A 36-year-old patient who is a known IV drug abuser presented with complaints of sudden onset of sharp excruciating chest pain, which increases on inspiration and is relieved by bending forward. He also complained of shortness of breath for the last few months. The most likely diagnosis would be?
Your Answer: Lung cancer
Correct Answer: Pericarditis
Explanation:The chief symptoms of pericarditis comprise of sudden onset of sharp chest pain, that is relieved by bending forward and is exacerbated by deep inspiration. Symptoms can vary among the individuals but these are the chief symptoms.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 24
Incorrect
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A baby is born to a mother who is known to have chronic hepatitis B. The mothers latest results are as follows:
HBsAg Positive
HBeAg Positive
What is the most appropriate strategy for reducing the vertical transmission rate?Your Answer: Give the mother hepatitis B immunoglobulin shortly before birth + the newborn hepatitis B vaccine
Correct Answer: Give the newborn hepatitis B vaccine + hepatitis B immunoglobulin
Explanation:The Green Book guidelines report in an active infection (HBeAg+ and HBsAg+) to give the vaccine as well as immunoglobulin. If antibodies are present it is not active infection (anti-Hbe) and then in that case only the vaccine, and no immunoglobulin, would be given. The presence of HBeAg means a person is infectious and can transmit to other people.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Infectious Diseases
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Question 25
Incorrect
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A 45-year-old man with diabetes comes to the clinic for his annual review.
He has had diabetes for eight years and he is also being treated for hypertension. He is on the following medications: metformin 500 mg tds, gliclazide 80 mg daily, atorvastatin 10 mg/d, Ramipril 10 mg/d and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5 mg/d.
He is noted to be obese (130kg). Physical examination is otherwise unremarkable.
Investigations reveal:
HbA1c 8.1% (3.8-6.4)
Fasting glucose 9 mmol/L (3.0-6.0)
24 hr Urine free cortisol 354 mmol/d (<250)
9am Plasma ACTH 4 ng/dL (10-50)
CT abdomen 3 cm right adrenal mass
Which of the following is most likely to be the adrenal mass?Your Answer: Metastasis
Correct Answer: Cortisol secreting adenoma
Explanation:The patient has Cushing syndrome suggested by the elevated 24hr urine free cortisol. Hence, the mass is most probably a cortisol secreting adenoma.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine System & Metabolism
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Question 26
Incorrect
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During the peri-infarct period, which of these drug classes have been shown to have the greatest favourable benefit?
Your Answer: Statins
Correct Answer: Beta blockers
Explanation:Statins and ACE inhibitors are beneficial initially for the first 24 hours but not proven to have a benefit in the post infarct period. Statins have plaque stabilising functions when activated early following infarction. In contrast, when started immediately, beta blockers are the most beneficial. Nitrates have not been proven beneficial for survival and some calcium channel blockers actually increased the mortality rate.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 27
Incorrect
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The digital rectal examination and flexible sigmoidoscopy of a 30-year-old woman are normal. However, she still complains of recurrent and brief episodes of severe rectal pain. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Rectal carcinoma
Correct Answer: Proctalgia fugax
Explanation:The digital rectal examination and sigmoidoscopy are normal, a fact that excludes all the other possible diagnoses. Proctalgia fugax is a functional anorectal disorder characterized by severe, intermittent episodes of rectal pain that are self-limiting. The diagnosis of proctalgia fugax requires exclusion of other causes of rectal or anal pain.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal System
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Question 28
Incorrect
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A man was admitted to the hospital and developed varicella zoster after 48h. Which of the following categories of people should be administered immunoglobulin only?
Your Answer: All family members
Correct Answer: All pregnant women who are tested negative for antibodies.
Explanation:Immunoglobulin should be given to all seronegative women within 4 days. However, it is strongly advised to seek medical care immediately if the disease develops.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Infectious Diseases
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Question 29
Incorrect
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A patient presents with occasionally severe retrosternal chest pain and dysphagia for both solids and liquids. What would be the best management option if the barium swallow showed a dilated oesophagus which tapers to a fine distal end?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Dilatation of the LES
Explanation:Dysphagia for both solids and liquids indicates either obstruction or impaired oesophageal peristalsis which is usually due to neuromuscular causes such as achalasia. Achalasia is the failure of smooth muscle fibres to relax, which can cause the lower oesophageal sphincter to remain closed. The lower part of the oesophagus is more narrow than normal and presents as a birds beak appearance on barium swallow. If dysphagia was present only on solid food consumption, a benign or malignant tumour must be suspected.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal System
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Question 30
Incorrect
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A 62-year-old woman with scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomenon complains of weight loss and has been referred for an opinion. Gastrointestinal associations of progressive systemic sclerosis include which of the following?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Oesophageal stricture
Explanation:Oesophageal stricture is a complication of systemic sclerosis, think of the oesophagus as sclerosing (fibrosing) leading to stricture and you never forget. Based on the clinical presentation of systemic sclerosis this is more likely than pancreatic dysfunction, PSC, lymphoma, or diverticulitis. Additionally, CREST syndrome stands for: calcinosis cutis, Raynaud’s phenomenon (which the patient has), oesophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasias), this is a form of systemic sclerosis you should be familiar with.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal System
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
