OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is neuroblastoma. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how neuroblastoma will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a tradition question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable.
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
A 2 year girl is brought to the clinic cease of a 2 week history of irritability, decreased appetite, reluctance to walk, and a slight cough. She has lost 5 lb since her last well child visit 5 months ago. There is no past history of recurrent respiratory illness, constipation, vomiting and/or diarrhea. The patient appears ill. She is in the 70th percentile for her height and the 20th percentile for weight. Her temperature is 100.0°F, pulse is 142/min, respirations are 25/min, and blood pressure is 150/100 mm Hg. Physical exam shows bluish discoloration under both eyelids. The cardiac exam is unremarkable. Laboratory studies are conducted and the results are shown below:
- Hemoglobin: 10.3 g/dL
- Leukocyte count: 8400/mm³
- Segmented neutrophils: 40%
- Eosinophils: 1%
- Lymphocytes: 56%
- Monocytes: 3%
- Platelet count: 235,000/mm³
A chest X-ray is ordered in this patient and shows a mass in the posterior mediastinum. What diagnosis could explain this patient’s presentation?
Question # 2
A 4 year old African American boy is brought to the clinic because of complaints with diffuse abdominal pain and the loss of appetite. These symptoms have been worsening over the past month, and during this time the patient has had 3 lb weight loss. He is now in the 55th percentile for height and 20th percentile for weight. Blood pressure is 125/80 mm Hg. An abdominal exam shows a firm, nodular midline mass that is present from the mid to upper abdomen. There is pain and swelling present on the right wrist. The rest of the exam is unremarkable. An abodminla X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound both show a midline mass that has multiple calcifications. What diagnosis might explain this patient’s presentation?
Page Updated: 11.09.2016