lOVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is bladder cancer. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how bladder cancer 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 73 year old man comes to the clinic with complaints of passing “red urine”. He explains that he first noticed this color change to his urine about 3 months ago. He denies any pain with urination, urinary hesitation, or flank pain. His past medical history is notable for emphysema, hypertension, lung cancer, and 60 pack year smoking history. His current medications include: hydrochlorothiazide. potassium. and albuterol. His temperature is (98.8°F), pulse is 62/mm, and blood pressure is 150/85 mm Hg. A physical exam is remarkable only for a diffusely enlarged prostate. Laboratory studies are shown below:
- Serum:
- Hematocrit: 36%
- Mean corpuscular volume: 77 µm³
- Platelet count: 145,000/mm³
- Serum creatinine: 1.4 mg/dL
- Serum PSA: 4.2 ng/mL (Normal < 4)
- Urine:
- Protein: trace
- RBC: 100/hpf
- WBC: 0-5/hpf
- Casts: negative
- Nitrites: negative
What could be responsible for this patients hematuria?
Explanation: hematuria + smoking history + no casts/WBC/nitrites in urine = bladder cancer
Page Updated: 12.23.2016