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Question 1
Correct
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A 35 year old woman presents to her family physician complaining of perianal discomfort. She is diagnosed with pruritis ani. Which of the following would not be associated with this condition?
Your Answer: Tuberculosis
Explanation:Tuberculosis is least likely to be associated with this condition. Anal pruritus affects up to 5% of the population. It is often persistent and the constant urge to scratch the area can cause great distress. Although usually caused by a combination of irritants, particularly faecal soiling and dietary factors, it can be a symptom of serious dermatosis, skin or generalised malignancy or systemic illness.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 2
Incorrect
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A 47 year old accountant presents with symptoms of biliary colic and tests confirmed the diagnosis of gallstones. Which of the procedures listed below would most likely increase the risk of gallstone formation?
Your Answer: Partial gastrectomy
Correct Answer: Ileal resection
Explanation:Ileal resection may lead to bile acid malabsorption and an altered biliary lipid composition. A “bile acid deficiency” in the enterohepatic circulation with a relative excess of cholesterol and cholesterol supersaturated bile might ensue, causing cholesterol gallstone formation.
In patients with Crohn’s disease involving the small
intestine, the prevalence of gall-bladder stones is higher
than that in the general population. One hypothesis
for this increased risk is that bile acid malabsorption,
secondary to impaired active bile acid transport as a
consequence of ileal disease/resection, leads to a
reduction in the total bile acid pool size and an increase
in biliary cholesterol saturation. In patients with
ulcerative or Crohn’s colitis, or who have undergone
colectomy, the bile acid malabsorption is less than that
in those with ileal dysfunction or resection, but the risk
of gallstone formation is still increased, allegedly by the
same mechanism. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Hepatobiliary And Pancreatic Surgery
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Question 3
Correct
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A 21-year-old woman presents with intermittent diarrhoea for the past eight months and loss in weight of about two kilograms. Colonoscopy is carried out in which appearances of melanosis coli are identified. This is confirmed on biopsy. What could be the most likely cause of melanosis coli in this patient?
Your Answer: Laxative abuse
Explanation:Melanosis coli may have occurred as a result of laxative abuse in this patient.
Melanosis coli, also pseudomelanosis coli, is a disorder of pigmentation of the wall of the colon, often identified at the time of colonoscopy. It is benign, and may have no significant correlation with the disease. The brown pigment seen is lipofuscin in macrophages, not melanin.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic diarrhoea is defined as lasting for more than 14 days. It is very common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Patients may be divided into those with diarrhoea-predominant IBS and those with constipation-predominant IBS. Along with diarrhoea/constipation, clinical features such as abdominal pain, bloating, weight loss, change in bowel habit, lethargy, nausea, backache, and bladder symptoms are also seen. Bloody diarrhoea is more common in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn’s disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 4
Correct
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A 36 year old female presents to the clinic with a 6 week history of discomfort just below her ribcage which is relieved by eating. She develops haematemesis and undergoes an upper GI endoscopy. An actively bleeding ulcer is noted in the first part of the duodenum. What is the best course of action?
Your Answer: Injection with adrenaline
Explanation:Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is usually defined by a bleeding source proximal to the ligament of Treitz although some may also include a bleeding source in the proximal jejunum. Upper GI bleeding emergencies are characterized by hematemesis, melena, haematochezia (if the bleeding is massive and brisk) and evidence of hemodynamic compromise such as dizziness, syncope episodes and shock. The most commonly used endoscopic haemostatic interventions include epinephrine (adrenaline) injection, thermal coagulation and endoscopic clipping at the ulcer site to constrict, compress and/or destroy the bleeding vessel. Injection of 30 mL diluted epinephrine (1:10 000) can effectively prevent recurrent bleeding with a low rate of complications. The optimal injection volume of epinephrine for endoscopic treatment of an actively bleeding ulcer (spurting or oozing) is 30 mL.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
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Question 5
Correct
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A 40 year old man is currently recovering after a live donor related liver transplant. He has been given a daily dose of corticosteroids to decrease the risk of graft rejection. Which of the following will not occur as a result of their administration?
Your Answer: Necrosis of activated lymphocytes
Explanation:Corticosteroids are responsible for an array of side effects. However, necrosis has a different pathophysiology and is not usually linked with corticosteroid usage.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Organ Transplantation
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Question 6
Incorrect
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A 12 year old boy presents with a sharp pain on the left side of his lower back. His parents both have a similar history of the condition. His urine tests positive for blood. A radio dense stone is seen in the region of the mid ureter when a KUB style x-ray is done. Which of the following is most likely the composition of the stone?
Your Answer: Calcium oxalate stone
Correct Answer: Cystine stone
Explanation:Answer: Cystine stone
Cystinuria is a genetic cause of kidney stones with an average prevalence of 1 in 7000 births. Cystine stones are found in 1 to 2 percent of stone formers, although they represent a higher percentage of stones in children (approximately 5 percent). Cystinuria is an inherited disorder. Inherited means it is passed down from parents to children through a defect in a specific gene. In order to have cystinuria, a person must inherit the gene from both parents.
Cystine is a homodimer of the amino acid cysteine. Patients with cystinuria have impairment of renal cystine transport, with decreased proximal tubular reabsorption of filtered cystine resulting in increased urinary cystine excretion and cystine nephrolithiasis. The cystine transporter also promotes the reabsorption of dibasic amino acids, including ornithine, arginine, and lysine, but these compounds are soluble so that an increase in their urinary excretion does not lead to stones. Intestinal cystine transport is also diminished, but the result is of uncertain clinical significance.Cystinuria only causes symptoms if you have a stone. Kidney stones can be as small as a grain of sand. Others can become as large as a pebble or even a golf ball. Symptoms may include:
Pain while urinating
Blood in the urine
Sharp pain in the side or the back (almost always on one side)
Pain near the groin, pelvis, or abdomen
Nausea and vomitingStruvite stones are a type of hard mineral deposit that can form in your kidneys. Stones form when minerals like calcium and phosphate crystallize inside your kidneys and stick together. Struvite is a mineral that’s produced by bacteria in your urinary tract. Bacteria in your urinary tract produce struvite when they break down the waste product urea into ammonia. For struvite to be produced, your urine needs to be alkaline. Having a urinary tract infection can make your urine alkaline. Struvite stones often form in women who have a urinary tract infection.
Calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stone. Kidney stones are solid masses that form in the kidney when there are high levels of calcium, oxalate, cystine, or phosphate and too little liquid. There are different types of kidney stones. Your healthcare provider can test your stones to find what type you have. Calcium oxalate stones are caused by too much oxalate in the urine.
What is oxalate and how does it form stones?
Oxalate is a natural substance found in many foods. Your body uses food for energy. After your body uses what it needs, waste products travel through the bloodstream to the kidneys and are removed through urine. Urine has various wastes in it. If there is too much waste in too little liquid, crystals can begin to form. These crystals may stick together and form a solid mass (a kidney stone). Oxalate is one type of substance that can form crystals in the urine. This can happen if there is too much oxalate, too little liquid, and the oxalate “sticks” to calcium while urine is being made by the kidneys.Uric acid stones are the most common cause of radiolucent kidney stones in children. Several products of purine metabolism are relatively insoluble and can precipitate when urinary pH is low. These include 2- or 8-dihydroxyadenine, adenine, xanthine, and uric acid. The crystals of uric acid may initiate calcium oxalate precipitation in metastable urine concentrates.
Uric acid stones form when the levels of uric acid in the urine is too high, and/or the urine is too acidic (pH level below 5.5) on a regular basis. High acidity in urine is linked to the following causes:
Uric acid can result from a diet high in purines, which are found especially in animal proteins such as beef, poultry, pork, eggs, and fish. The highest levels of purines are found in organ meats, such as liver and fish. Eating large amounts of animal proteins can cause uric acid to build up in the urine. The uric acid can settle and form a stone by itself or in combination with calcium. It is important to note that a person’s diet alone is not the cause of uric acid stones. Other people might eat the same diet and not have any problems because they are not prone to developing uric acid stones.
There is an increased risk of uric acid stones in those who are obese or diabetic.
Patients on chemotherapy are prone to developing uric acid stones.Only cystine stone is inherited.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Urology
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Question 7
Incorrect
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A 46 year old politician with chronic hepatitis for several years visits the clinic for a review. Recently, his AFP is noted to be increased and an abdominal ultrasound demonstrates a 2.2cm lesion in segment V of the liver. What is the most appropriate course of action?
Your Answer: PET CT scan
Correct Answer: Liver MRI
Explanation:In patients with liver tumours, it is crucial to detect and stage the tumours at an early stage (to select patients who will benefit from curative liver resection, and avoid unnecessary surgery). Therefore, an optimal preoperative evaluation of the liver is necessary, and a contrast-enhanced MRI is widely considered the state-of-the-art method. Liver MRI without contrast administration is appropriate for cholelithiasis but not sufficient for most liver tumour diagnoses.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Hepatobiliary And Pancreatic Surgery
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Question 8
Correct
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A 26-year-old female presents with a small nodule located on the back of her neck. It is excised for cosmetic reasons. The histology report states that the lesion consists of a sebum filled lesion surrounded by the outer root sheath of a hair follicle. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Pilar cyst
Explanation:Pilar or Trichilemmal cysts are common dermal cysts. They occur in less than 10% of the population. Of all skin cysts, Pilar cysts are the most common cysts. Pilar cysts usually occur in areas with dense hair follicle so that they are most commonly seen on the head especially the scalp, but they can also be found on the face, head, and neck.
Trichilemmal cysts never give rise to malignant lesions. They are usually sporadic. The cysts contain keratin and are outlined by stratified squamous epithelium similar to what we see in the outer(external) root sheath of the hair follicle. Proliferating trichilemmal cysts are the tumour form of pilar cysts, and it would appear in less than 3% of all cases of pilar cysts, and it might ulcerate and may be locally aggressive.Pilar cysts are lined by thick capsules containing small layers of cuboidal, dark-staining basal epithelial cells in a palisade arrangement without an obvious intercellular gap. Those cells coalesce with multiple layers of keratinocytes forming squamous epithelium; these cells showed more maturation with dense eosinophilic-staining keratin in the absence of a granular cell layer. Sometimes we might see some areas of calcifications. Keratin in the pilar cysts stains with antikeratin antibodies similar to that seen in keratin derived from human hair. Trichilemmal cysts might rupture and of their components will leak into the dermis leading to the formation of foreign-body reaction.
Trichilemmal cysts are usually asymptomatic unless they calcify or rupture their contents leading to inflammatory process and pain in the affected site. Sometimes, the presence of pilar cyst overpressure or bony prominence might lead to pain. Trichilemmal cysts usually present as flesh-coloured, smooth, mobile, firm, and well-circumscribed nodules. Family history is very important since this condition can have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Usually, they are slow-growing nodules but sometimes they increase in size rapidly and it would indicate infection or malignant transformation. Young females are affected more than males. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Skin Lesions
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Question 9
Incorrect
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A 3 month old baby boy is taken to the hospital for recurrent colicky abdominal pain and intermittent intestinal obstruction. The transverse colon is herniated into the thoracic cavity, through a mid line defect and this is shown when imaging is done. What is the cause of this defect?
Your Answer: Bochdalek hernia
Correct Answer: Morgagni hernia
Explanation:Morgagni hernias are one of the congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH), and are characterized by herniation through the foramen of Morgagni. When compared to Bochdalek hernias, Morgagni hernias are:
-anterior
-more often right-sided (,90%)
-small
-rare (,2% of CDH)
-at low risk of prolapseOnly ,30% of patients are symptomatic. Newborns may present with respiratory distress at birth similar to a Bochdalek hernia. Additionally, recurrent chest infections and gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported in those with previously undiagnosed Morgagni hernia.
The image of the transverse colon is herniated into the thoracic cavity, through a mid line defect and this indicates that it is a Morgagni hernia since the foramen of a Morgagni hernia occurs in the anterior midline through the sternocostal hiatus of the diaphragm, with 90% of cases occurring on the right side.Clinical manifestations of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) include the following:
Early diagnosis – Right-side heart; decreased breath sounds on the affected side; scaphoid abdomen; bowel sounds in the thorax, respiratory distress, and/or cyanosis on auscultation; CDH can often be diagnosed in utero with ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or bothLate diagnosis – Chest mass on chest radiography, gastric volvulus, splenic volvulus, or large-bowel obstruction
Congenital hernias (neonatal onset) – Respiratory distress and/or cyanosis occurs within the first 24 hours of life; CDH may not be diagnosed for several years if the defect is small enough that it does not cause significant pulmonary dysfunction
Congenital hernias (childhood or adult onset) – Obstructive symptoms from protrusion of the colon, chest pain, tightness or fullness the in chest, sepsis following strangulation or perforation, and many respiratory symptoms occur.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- The Abdomen
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Question 10
Incorrect
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A 23 year old woman falls from the roof of her house while putting up Christmas lights and hits the right side of her head. She is rushed to the A&E department and she has a GCS of 7. After eleven hours of observation, she develops an increasing headache and becomes confused. A crescent shaped collection of fluid between her brain and dura with associated midline shift is seen on the CT scan. What is her diagnosis?
Your Answer: Acute sub dural haematoma
Correct Answer:
Explanation:Answer: Acute subdural haematoma
An acute subdural haematoma (SDH) is a clot of blood that develops between the surface of the brain and the dura mater, the brain’s tough outer covering, usually due to stretching and tearing of veins on the brain’s surface. These veins rupture when a head injury suddenly jolts or shakes the brain.
Traumatic acute SDHs are among the most lethal of all head injuries. Associated with more severe generalized brain injury, they often occur with cerebral contusions.
SDHs are seen in 10 percent to 20 percent of all traumatic brain injury cases and occur in up to 30 percent of fatal injuries.
Diagnosis:SDHs are best diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scan. They appear as a dense, crescent-shaped mass over a portion of the brain’s surface.
Most patients with acute SDHs have low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores on admission to the hospital.Acute traumatic subdural haematoma often results from falls, violence, or motor vehicle accidents. Suspect acute subdural haematoma whenever the patient has experienced moderately severe to severe blunt head trauma. The clinical presentation depends on the location of the lesion and the rate at which it develops. Often, patients are rendered comatose at the time of the injury. A subset of patients remain conscious; others deteriorate in a delayed fashion as the haematoma expands.
A GCS score less than 15 after blunt head trauma in a patient with no intoxicating substance use (or impaired mental status baseline) warrants consideration of an urgent CT scan. Search for any focal neurologic deficits or signs of increased ICP. Any abnormality of mental status that cannot be explained completely by alcohol intoxication or the presence of another mind-altering substance should increase suspicion of subdural hematoma in the patient with blunt head trauma.The clinical presentation of a patient with an acute subdural haematoma depends on the size of the hematoma and the degree of any associated parenchymal brain injury. Symptoms associated with acute subdural haematoma include the following:
Headache
Nausea
Confusion
Personality change
Decreased level of consciousness
Speech difficulties
Other change in mental status
Impaired vision or double vision
Weakness
On noncontrast CT scan, an acute subdural haematoma appears as a hyperdense (white), crescent-shaped mass between the inner table of the skull and the surface of the cerebral hemisphere.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Surgical Disorders Of The Brain
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Question 11
Incorrect
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A 32-year-old male is admitted overnight, following a road traffic accident. He has an open tibial fracture with a 20 cm wound and extensive periosteal stripping. He is neurovascularly intact; IV antibiotics and wound dressing have been administered in the emergency department. What is the most appropriate course of action?
Your Answer: Skeletal fixation followed by vascular reconstruction
Correct Answer: Combined skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction on a scheduled operating list
Explanation:The patient has Gustilo-Anderson Grade IIIb.
Options for wound closure in the treatment of open fractures include primary closure of the skin, split-thickness skin grafting, and the use of either free or local muscle flaps. The timing of open wound closure has proponents in the immediate, early, and delayed categories
Gustilo-Anderson classification
Type I – Open fracture with a wound less than 1 cm in length, and clean
Type II – Open fracture with a laceration more than 1 cm in length, without extensive soft-tissue damage, flaps, or avulsions
Type III – Either an open segmental fracture, an open fracture with extensive soft-tissue damage, or a traumatic amputation
The description of type III fractures was subsequently further refined and described by Gustilo et al in 1984, [6] as follows:
Type IIIa – Severe comminution or segmental fractures, but with adequate coverage of bone and a wound that is closable by simple means
Type IIIb – Extensive soft-tissue damage in association with the open fracture, with significant bone exposure and periosteal stripping, typically requiring tissue rotation or free tissue transfer for closure
Type IIIc – Any open fracture with an arterial injury that requires repair -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Orthopaedics
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Question 12
Incorrect
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A 31 year old rugby player is brought to the ER after being crushed in a scrum. He briefly lost consciousness, regained it and collapsed again. On arrival, his GCS was noted to be 6/15 with dilatation of the left pupil. What would be the best definitive management in his case?
Your Answer: Burr Hole decompression
Correct Answer: Parietotemporal craniotomy
Explanation:Epidural hematoma (EDH) is a traumatic accumulation of blood between the inner table of the skull and the stripped-off dural membrane. EDH results from a traumatic head injury, usually with an associated skull fracture and arterial laceration. The inciting event often is a focused blow to the head, such as that produced by a hammer or baseball bat. In 85-95% of patients, this type of trauma results in an overlying fracture of the skull. Blood vessels in close proximity to the fracture are the sources of the haemorrhage in the formation of an epidural hematoma. Because the underlying brain has usually been minimally injured, prognosis is excellent if treated aggressively. Outcome from surgical decompression and repair is related directly to patient’s preoperative neurologic condition.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Surgical Disorders Of The Brain
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Question 13
Incorrect
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A 37 year old woman has recently undergone a mastectomy along with axillary node clearance for an invasive ductal carcinoma. Histological analysis show a completely excised grade III lesion measuring 3.5cm. Two of the axillary nodes are significant for metastatic spread. The tumour is found to be oestrogen receptor negative. Which of the following would be the next best step in the management of this patient?
Your Answer: Axillary radiotherapy
Correct Answer: Administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy
Explanation:Chemotherapy is offered to patients to help downstage advanced lesions to facilitate breast conserving surgery i.e. in grade 3 tumours with axillary node metastasis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Breast And Endocrine Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 14
Correct
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A 2-day old neonate is developing increasing problems with feeding. On examination, she has a pan systolic murmur and her forearms have not developed properly. What is the most likely underlying problem?
Your Answer: Oesophageal atresia
Explanation:The child has VACTERL
Over 50% of infants with oesophageal atresia have one or more additional anomalies.
The VATER association consists of a combination of anomalies including vertebral, anorectal, tracheooesophageal and renal or radial abnormalities. This association was later expanded as the VACTERL association to include cardiac and limb defects.
Other associations which may include oesophageal atresia are the CHARGE association (coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanal, retarded growth and development, genital hypoplasia and ear deformities), POTTER’S syndrome (renal agenesis, pulmonary hypoplasia, typical dysmorphic facies) and SCHISIS association (omphalocele, cleft lip and/or palate, genital hypoplasia). Genetic defects associated with oesophageal atresia include Trisomy 21 and 18, and 13q deletion. Of the cardiac anomalies, the most common are ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot. Major cardiac malformations are one of the main causes of mortality in infants with oesophageal atresia. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Paediatric Surgery
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Question 15
Correct
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A 25-year-old man is involved in vigorous intercourse and suddenly feels a snap. His penis becomes swollen and painful immediately after. The admitting surgeon suspects a penile fracture. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management?
Your Answer: Immediate surgical exploration
Explanation:Suspected penile fractures should be surgically explored and the injury repaired.
Penile fractures are a rare type of urological trauma. The injury is usually in the proximal part of the penile shaft and may involve the urethra. A classical history of a snapping sensation followed by immediate pain is usually given by the patient (usually during vigorous intercourse). On examination, a tense haematoma is most commonly noted, and if the urethra is injured, blood may be seen at the meatus.
The correct management involves surgical exploration and repair of the injury. A circumferential incision is made immediately inferior to the glans and the penile shaft is inspected. Injuries are usually sutured and the urethra is repaired over a catheter.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Urology
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Question 16
Correct
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A 40-year-old man is brought to the A&E department in an unconscious state, following a car collision. He was driving at a high speed of 140 km/hr, wearing a seat belt, when his car collided with a brick wall. CT scan of the brain appears to be normal. However, he remains in a persistent vegetative state. What is the most likely underlying cause?
Your Answer: Diffuse axonal injury
Explanation:This is a case of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) which occurs when the head is rapidly accelerated or decelerated.
DAI is a form of traumatic brain injury which occurs when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull as an injury is occurring. The long connecting fibres in the brain called axons are sheared as the brain rapidly accelerates and decelerates inside the hard bone of the skull. There are two components of DAI:
1. Multiple haemorrhages
2. Diffuse axonal damage in the white matterUp to two-thirds of the changes occurs at the junction of the grey and white matter due to the different densities of the tissue. These are mainly histological and axonal damage is secondary to biochemical cascades. Often, there are no signs of a fracture or contusion. DAI typically causes widespread injury to the brain leading to loss of consciousness. The changes in the brain are often very tiny and can be difficult to detect using CT or MRI scans.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Surgical Disorders Of The Brain
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Question 17
Incorrect
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A 21-year-old woman presents with an episode of greenish discharge from the left nipple. Clinical examination of the breast is normal. Her breast USS report is U1 (normal). What should be the best course of action?
Your Answer: Express duct fluid for cytology
Correct Answer: Reassure and discharge
Explanation:This is likely to be a case of simple duct ectasia. Normal USS report coupled with normal examination would favour discharge from the clinic. Mammography is generally not helpful in this age group.
Possible causes of nipple discharge include:
1. Abscess
2. Birth control pills
3. Breast cancer
4. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
5. Endocrine disorders
6. Excessive breast stimulation
7. Fibrocystic breasts (lumpy or rope-like breast tissue)
8. Galactorrhoea
9. Injury or trauma to the breast
10. Intraductal papilloma (benign, wart-like growth in a milk duct)
11. Mammary duct ectasia
12. Mastitis (an infection in breast tissue that most commonly affects women who are breast-feeding)
13. Medication use
14. Menstrual cycle hormone changes
15. Paget’s disease of the breast
16. Periductal mastitis
17. Pregnancy and breast-feeding
18. ProlactinomaAssessment and management of non-malignant nipple discharge includes:
1. Exclude endocrine disease
2. Nipple cytology is not carried out as it would be unhelpful
3. Smoking cessation advice given for duct ectasia
4. Total duct excision may be warranted for duct ectasia with severe symptoms -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Breast And Endocrine Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 18
Incorrect
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A 39 year old man with a long standing inguinal hernia inquires about the risk of strangulation over the next year if he decides not to have surgery done. He is seen with a small, direct inguinal hernia. Which percentage matches with the likely risk of strangulation over the year?
Your Answer: 25%
Correct Answer:
Explanation:Indirect inguinal hernias have a higher risk of strangulation. The risk of strangulation and obstruction is lowest for direct inguinal hernias as they have a wide neck, which can often be monitored and managed conservatively. A study conducted showed that the cumulative probability of strangulation for inguinal hernias was 2.8 per cent, rising to 4.5 per cent after 2 years.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- The Abdomen
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Question 19
Incorrect
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A young man is referred by his family doctor to the urologist after having recurrent episodes of left flank pain. He was diagnosed with left sided PUJ obstruction as a little boy but he was lost to follow up. A CT scan is done and it shows considerable renal scarring. Which investigation should be done?
Your Answer: CT KUB
Correct Answer: MAG 3 renogram
Explanation:Answer: MAG 3 renogram
This is the agent of choice due to a high extraction rate, which may be necessary for an obstructed system. Diuretic (furosemide) renogram is performed to evaluate between obstructive vs. nonobstructive hydronephrosis. The non-obstructive hydronephrosis will demonstrate excretion (downward slope on renogram) after administration of diuretic from the collecting system. Whereas mechanical obstructive hydronephrosis will show no downward slope on renogram, with retained tracer in the collecting system.
Pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction/stenosis can be one of the causes of an obstructive uropathy. It can be congenital or acquired with a congenital PUJ obstruction being one of the most common causes of antenatal hydronephrosis. This is defined as an obstruction of the flow of urine from the renal pelvis to the proximal ureter.
Many cases are asymptomatic and identified incidentally when the renal tract is imaged for other reasons. When symptomatic, symptoms include recurrent urinary tract infections, stone formation and even a palpable flank mass. They are also at high risk of renal injury even by minor trauma.Symptom: Classically intermittent pain after drinking large volumes of fluid or fluids with a diuretic effect is described, due to the reduced outflow from the renal pelvis into the ureter.
Tc-99m DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) is a technetium radiopharmaceutical used in renal imaging to evaluate renal structure and morphology, particularly in paediatric imaging for detection of scarring and pyelonephritis. DMSA is an ideal agent for the assessment of renal cortex as it binds to the sulfhydryl groups in proximal tubules at the renal cortex with longer retention than other agents. This results in higher concentration and hence much higher resolution with pinhole SPECT imaging. Also, it allows better assessment of differential renal function. It is a static scan as opposed to dynamic DTPA or MAG3 scans.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Urology
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Question 20
Incorrect
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A 15 year old girl is diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis. Which of the following is the most appropriate recommended step in management?
Your Answer: Surveillance colonoscopy every 1–2 years from the age of 25 years onwards
Correct Answer: Surveillance annual flexible sigmoidoscopy from age 13 years until age 30 years
Explanation:Answer: Surveillance annual flexible sigmoidoscopy from age 13 years until age 30 years.
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is the most common adenomatous polyposis syndrome. It is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by the early onset of hundreds to thousands of adenomatous polyps throughout the colon. If left untreated, all patients with this syndrome will develop colon cancer by age 35-40 years. In addition, an increased risk exists for the development of other malignancies.
Most patients with FAP are asymptomatic until they develop cancer. As a result, diagnosing presymptomatic patients is essential.Of patients with FAP, 75%-80% have a family history of polyps and/or colorectal cancer at age 40 years or younger.
Nonspecific symptoms, such as unexplained rectal bleeding (haematochezia), diarrhoea, or abdominal pain, in young patients may be suggestive of FAP.
In a minority of FAP families a mutation cannot be identified and so annual flexible sigmoidoscopy should be offered to at risk family members from age 13–15 years until age 30, and at three to five year intervals thereafter until age 60 years.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 21
Incorrect
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A 43 year old female with thyrotoxicosis is referred to the endocrinology clinic because she was poorly controlled on carbimazole and has received orbital radiotherapy for severe proptosis. She had improved clinically but she relapsed on stopping her carbimazole. What is the best course of action?
Your Answer: Administration of radio-iodine
Correct Answer: Total thyroidectomy
Explanation:Due to this patient having a relapse after using carbimazole following orbital radiotherapy for severe proptosis., total thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice.
Thyroidectomy is the definitive surgical management for Graves thyrotoxicosis and usually requires a short course of pre-treatment with thionamides or inorganic iodine to achieve euthyroid state; this reduces operative complications and thyroid vascularity. Although subtotal thyroidectomy was once practiced, most surgeons now recommend complete thyroidectomy to minimize chances of relapse.Radioactive iodine (I-131) is widely used to treat the thyrotoxicosis of Graves’ disease, but, despite its demonstrable efficacy and safety, there have long been concerns about its possible adverse effect on thyroid eye disease. A study showed that after radioiodine treatment 15% of patients developed new or worsened ophthalmopathy, whereas this occurred in only 3% of patients treated with methimazole and in none treated with radioiodine plus prednisone. In the radioiodine group 24% of those with pre-existing ophthalmopathy suffered an exacerbation, whereas only 8% of patients without eye disease at baseline developed it.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Breast And Endocrine Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A 40-year-old man has been diagnosed with anal fissure, which has failed to respond to first-line treatment. What should be the next most appropriate treatment?
Your Answer: Prescription of 0.6% topical glyceryl trinitrate
Correct Answer: 15–30 units of botulinum toxin injected into the internal anal sphincter
Explanation:The next appropriate step would be to perform an examination under anaesthesia and inject 15–30 units of botulinum toxin into the internal anal sphincter.
Anal fissures are commonly seen in the colorectal clinic and are a common cause of painful, bright red rectal bleeding. Most fissures are idiopathic and present as a painful mucocutaneous defect in the posterior midline (90% cases). Fissures are more likely to be anteriorly located in females, particularly if they are multiparous. Diseases associated with fissure-in-ano include:
1. Crohn’s disease
2. Tuberculosis
3. Internal rectal prolapseDiagnostic options are as follows:
In most cases, the defect can be visualised as a posterior midline epithelial defect. Where symptoms are highly suggestive of the condition and examination findings are unclear, an examination under anaesthesia may be helpful. Atypical disease presentation should be investigated by colonoscopy and EUA, with biopsies of the area.For management of anal fissure:
1. Stool softeners are important as hard stools may tear the epithelium and result in recurrent symptoms (however, up to 25% of the patients fail to respond). The most effective first-line agents are topically applied GTN (0.2%) or Diltiazem (2%) paste.
2. Resistant cases may benefit from injection of botulinum toxin or lateral internal sphincterotomy. Advancement flaps may be used to treat resistant cases. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 23
Correct
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A 40 year old teacher presents with a mass lesion in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Tests reveal that she has a 2cm mass lesion which on core biopsy is demonstrated to be invasive ductal carcinoma. A FNA of a bulky axillary lymph node contains malignant cells. What is the best course of action?
Your Answer: Wide local excision and axillary node clearance
Explanation:Axillary dissection is a surgical procedure that incises the axilla to identify, examine, or remove lymph nodes. Axillary dissection has been the standard technique used in the staging and treatment of the axilla in breast cancer.
Axillary dissection should be reserved for patients with proven axillary disease preoperatively or with a positive sentinel node biopsy.Axillary dissection is only therapeutic in patients who are node positive.
Wide local excision (Lumpectomy) is defined as complete surgical resection of a primary tumour with a goal of achieving widely negative margins (ideally a 1-cm margin around the lesion). It is applicable in most patients with stage I and stage II invasive carcinomas. This patient has a tumour size of 2cm which is small hence wide local excision should be done.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Breast And Endocrine Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 24
Correct
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A 39 year old woman is knocked off her bike on the way home and she is taken to the hospital. Her ankle is observed to be grossly deformed with bilateral malleolar tenderness, severe ankle swelling and tenting of the medial soft tissues. Which of the following would be the best option in initial management?
Your Answer: Immediate reduction and application of backslab
Explanation:Ankle fractures most often occur by rotational mechanisms with the external forces transmitted through the foot via the talus to the malleoli. The specific pattern of fracture and ligamentous injury depends on the position of the foot and the direction of the force at the time of injury.
Reduce the ankle fracture as soon as possible once informed consent provided to the patient. Assess the neurovascular status of the limb before and after manipulation. Have splinting materials ready and measured out (use the uninjured, contralateral leg for measuring). Either a short leg splint or cast is applied based on fracture type, patient, surgical urgency, and surgeon preference.
Ensure adequate analgesia for the patient including NSAIDs, IV medications, hematoma block, or procedural sedation. Once reduced and splinted in place, recheck neurovascular status, elevate the leg and obtain a post-reduction X-ray.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Orthopaedics
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Question 25
Correct
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A 32 year old woman with a history of Crohn's disease, presents with a recurrent discharging anal fistula. Examination reveals a low anal fistula with involvement of a small area of the external anal sphincter muscle. Which of the following is the most appropriate management plan?
Your Answer: Insertion of a loose seton
Explanation:Fistulotomy could achieve good results in terms of wound healing and incontinence in strictly selected patients with Crohn’s disease suffering from low-lying trans-sphincteric fistulae. For more high-lying or complicated fistulae, seton placement is more appropriate. For high transsphincteric fistulae, the only option is placement of loose seton.
Fistulae are classified into four main groups according to anatomical location and the degree of sphincter involvement. Simple uncomplicated fistulae are low and do not involve more than 30% of the external sphincter. Complex fistulae involve the sphincter, have multiple branches or are non cryptoglandular in origin -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 26
Correct
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A 20-year-old woman is admitted with right upper quadrant pain. On examination, there is tenderness in the right upper quadrant region. Imaging shows signs of acute cholecystitis due to gallstones. The common bile duct appears normal and liver function tests are normal as well. What should be the most appropriate course of action?
Your Answer: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the next 24–48 hours
Explanation:In most cases, the treatment of choice for acute cholecystitis is cholecystectomy performed early in the illness. The procedure can be carried out laparoscopically even when acute inflammation is present. Delayed surgery particularly around five to seven days after presentation is much more technically challenging and is often best deferred.
Up to 24% of women and 12% of men may have gallstones. Of these, up to 30% may develop local infection and cholecystitis. The classical symptom of cholecystitis is colicky right upper quadrant pain that occurs postprandially. Others include swinging pyrexia, and general feeling of being unwell. They are usually worst following a fatty meal when cholecystokinin levels are highest and gallbladder contraction is maximal.
Murphy’s sign is positive on examination. The standard diagnostic work-up consists of abdominal ultrasound and liver function tests. For management, cholecystectomy should ideally be done within 48 hours of presentation. In patients unfit for surgery, percutaneous drainage may be considered.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Hepatobiliary And Pancreatic Surgery
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Question 27
Correct
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A 32 year old man has a perianal abscess at 6 o'clock position. Which of the following is the most appropriate step in the management of this patient?
Your Answer: Examination under anaesthetic and drainage of sepsis
Explanation:Optimal physical assessment of an anorectal abscess may require anaesthesia to alleviate patient discomfort that would otherwise limit the extent of the examination.
Drainage should be carried out promptly to prevent the sepsis worsening. Perianal incisions to allow drainage of pus should be circumanal, thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the sphincters and thereby preventing faecal incontinence. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Colorectal Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 28
Incorrect
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An 11 month old baby boy is taken to the clinic with a history of a right groin swelling. A photograph on the father's mobile phone, shows what looks like an inguinal hernia. What is the most appropriate course of action?
Your Answer: Arrange an MRI scan
Correct Answer: Undertake an open inguinal herniotomy
Explanation:Answer: Undertake an open inguinal herniotomy
Inguinal hernia is a type of ventral hernia that occurs when an intra-abdominal structure, such as bowel or omentum, protrudes through a defect in the abdominal wall. Inguinal hernias do not spontaneously heal and must be surgically repaired because of the ever-present risk of incarceration. Generally, a surgical consultation should be made at the time of diagnosis, and repair (on an elective basis) should be performed very soon after the diagnosis is confirmed.
The infant or child with an inguinal hernia generally presents with an obvious bulge at the internal or external ring or within the scrotum. The parents typically provide the history of a visible swelling or bulge, commonly intermittent, in the inguinoscrotal region in boys and inguinolabial region in girls. The swelling may or may not be associated with any pain or discomfort.
Open herniotomy is its standard treatment against which all alternative modalities of treatment are evaluated. It is credited with being easy to perform, having a high success rate, and low rate of complications.
The use of prosthetic mesh in these patients is rare, however not uncalled for. Laparoscopic inguinal herniotomy is significantly associated with longer operative time for unilateral cases and a reduction in metachronous hernia development when compared to open inguinal herniotomy. There was a trend towards higher recurrence rate for laparoscopic repairs and shorter operative time for bilateral cases. A well conducted randomized controlled trial is warranted to compare both approaches. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- The Abdomen
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Question 29
Correct
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A 19 year old female presents with a firm mobile mass in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast. Which of the following could be the underlying disease process?
Your Answer: Fibroadenoma
Explanation:A fibroadenoma is a painless, unilateral, benign (non-cancerous) breast tumour that is a solid, not fluid-filled, lump. It occurs most commonly in women between the age of 14 to 35 years but can be found at any age. Fibroadenomas shrink after menopause, and therefore, are less common in post-menopausal women. Fibroadenomas are often referred to as a breast mouse due to their high mobility. Fibroadenomas are a marble-like mass comprising both epithelial and stromal tissues located under the skin of the breast. These firm, rubbery masses with regular borders are often variable in size.
Duct ectasia, also known as mammary duct ectasia, is a benign (non-cancerous) breast condition that occurs when a milk duct in the breast widens and its walls thicken. This can cause the duct to become blocked and lead to fluid build-up. It’s more common in women who are getting close to menopause. But it can happen after menopause, too.
Fat necrosis is a benign condition and does not increase the risk of developing breast cancer. It can occur anywhere in the breast and can affect women of any age. Men can also get fat necrosis, but this is very rare.
Breast cysts are a benign condition. They’re one of the most common causes of a breast lump, and can develop in either one or both breasts. It’s thought they develop naturally as the breast changes with age due to normal changes in hormone levels. It’s common to have more than one cyst. Breast cysts can feel soft or hard and can be any size, ranging from a few millimetres to several centimetres. They’re usually oval or round in shape and can develop quickly.
Atypical hyperplasia is a precancerous condition that affects cells in the breast. Atypical hyperplasia describes an accumulation of abnormal cells in the breast.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Breast And Endocrine Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 30
Incorrect
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A 34-year-old female teacher is admitted with severe epigastric pain. Her blood reports show normal levels of serum amylase. In order to exclude a perforated viscus and determine whether pancreatitis is present, what should be the best course of action?
Your Answer: Request a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography scan
Correct Answer: Request a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast
Explanation:A CT scan with IV contrast is needed because a scan without contrast will exclude a perforated viscus but will not be able to determine the presence of pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis may be mild or life-threatening but it usually subsides. Gallstones and alcohol abuse are the main causes of acute pancreatitis. Severe abdominal pain is the predominant symptom.
For diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, serum lipase is both more sensitive and specific than serum amylase.
Serum amylase levels do not correlate with disease severity and may give both false positive and negative results. Three scoring systems are used to assess the severity of the disease, which are Glasgow pancreatitis score, Ranson criteria, and APACHE II scoring system.Management options are as follows:
1. There is very little evidence to support the administration of antibiotics to patients with acute pancreatitis. These may contribute to antibiotic resistance and increase the risks of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
2. Patients with acute pancreatitis due to gallstones should undergo early cholecystectomy.
3. Patients with obstructed biliary system due to stones should undergo early ERCP.
4. Patients with infected necrosis should undergo either radiological drainage or surgical necrosectomy. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Hepatobiliary And Pancreatic Surgery
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