Changed MCCQE Exam Questions

A confounder is a variable associated with both the exposure and the outcome but not in the causal pathway. In this study, coffee drinking is associated with smoking (the actual risk factor for lung cancer), but not independently associated with lung cancer.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Epidemiology Chapter:

“A confounder is a third variable that distorts the observed association between an exposure and an outcome. It must be associated with both the exposure and the outcome, but not a result of the exposure.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Population Health > 97-3: Study Design and Bias):

“Recognize and control for confounding in the interpretation of observational study data.”

Coffee is not a risk factor (B) since it’s not independently associated with lung cancer, and it ' s not selection bias (C), which involves how participants are enrolled in a study.

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Palliative radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for painful bone metastases, including those from prostate cancer. It provides localized pain relief and functional improvement.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Oncology, “Metastatic Bone Pain”:

“External beam radiotherapy is first-line treatment for localized bone pain from metastases. Relief occurs within days to weeks.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Internal Medicine > Oncology > 52-1):

“Candidates must identify treatment options for symptom control in metastatic cancer, including palliative radiotherapy for painful bone lesions.”

Androgen deprivation therapy (B, C) treats systemic disease but doesn’t address acute pain. Opioids (D) may be used, but radiotherapy provides disease-targeted relief. Intrathecal steroids (A) are not standard for prostate metastases.

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This child experienced a first unprovoked generalized tonic-clonic seizure that resolved spontaneously and now has a normal neurologic examination and stable vital signs. MCCQE objectives emphasize that the immediate priority after a first seizure is to identify reversible metabolic causes , particularly hypoglycemia and electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hyponatremia, hypocalcemia). Therefore, urgent serum electrolytes (and glucose) are indicated.

Neuroimaging (CT or MRI) is not urgently required in a neurologically normal child without focal deficits, trauma, persistent altered consciousness, or signs of increased intracranial pressure. MRI may be arranged later for further evaluation if clinically indicated. Electroencephalography is useful in outpatient follow-up to assess seizure type and recurrence risk but is not an emergency test. Lumbar puncture is reserved for suspected central nervous system infection (e.g., fever, meningeal signs, altered mental status), which are absent here.

Thus, immediate laboratory evaluation for metabolic derangements is the appropriate urgent investigation.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) in older men is commonly vascular, medication-related, or associated with diabetes. This patient has well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c 6.4%) and a recent negative cardiac stress test , suggesting he is at low cardiovascular risk for sexual activity. MCCQE objectives emphasize cardiovascular risk stratification prior to prescribing phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. Patients who are stable and cleared for moderate physical exertion (e.g., recent negative stress test) do not require additional cardiac testing before initiating sildenafil.

There is no indication for routine CBC, urine culture, PSA, or echocardiography in the absence of relevant symptoms or findings. PSA screening is unrelated to ED management and should follow age-appropriate shared decision-making guidelines. Echocardiography is unnecessary without cardiac symptoms or abnormal exam.

The key contraindication to sildenafil is concurrent nitrate therapy or unstable cardiovascular disease, neither of which is present. Therefore, no additional investigations are required before initiating treatment. Counseling should include discussion of medication interactions, side effects (e.g., headache, flushing), and avoidance with nitrates.