Surgery MCQ Answer 16

Answer: a, b

A new pulmonary lesion in a patient with a history of a previously treated malignancy poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A CT scan should always be obtained since plain radiographs can detect lesions only 9 mm in diameter or greater. The lesion is most likely to be metastatic if the prior malignancy was sarcoma or melanoma and most likely to be a new primary lung cancer if the prior malignancy originated in the head, neck or breast. When the original lesion was in the GI or GU tract, there is an equal chance that it is metastatic or a new primary. Fine needle aspiration does not usually alter the plan for excision and is done only when the patient is not an operative candidate or desires to know the diagnosis.

Category: Surgery MCQs