Urology Practice Questions

Q: A patient presents with abdominal swelling and inguinal lymphadenopathy. Considering the clinical presentation, which carcinoma is most likely associated with these findings?

Ca penis. ***Ca penis*** - **Carcinoma of the penis** commonly metastasizes to the **inguinal lymph nodes** due to its lymphatic drainage patterns. - Advanced penile cancer with extensive nodal involvement can lead to **abdominal swelling** from large retroperitoneal nodes compressing structures or generalized edema. *Ca testis* - **Testicular cancer** typically metastasizes to **retroperitoneal lymph nodes** first, not inguinal nodes. - While retroperitoneal nodes can cause abdominal swelling, **inguinal involvement is rare** unless there is scrotal invasion or prior surgery. *Ca prostate* - **Prostate cancer** primarily metastasizes to **pelvic lymph nodes** (obturator, internal iliac) and bone, rarely to inguinal lymph nodes. - Abdominal swelling would more likely be due to **bone metastases** causing painful compression or uremia from urinary obstruction rather than inguinal adenopathy. *Ca bladder* - **Bladder cancer** tends to spread to **pelvic lymph nodes**, similar to prostate cancer, and can cause abdominal swelling if it obstructs ureters or involves extensive pelvic spread. - **Inguinal lymphadenopathy is uncommon** in bladder cancer unless there is direct extension into the groin or superficial involvement.

Q: Which of the following statements about undescended testis is true?

Increased risk of malignancy. ***Increased risk of malignancy*** - Undescended testis is associated with a **3 to 14 times increased risk** of testicular malignancy, particularly **seminoma**. - The risk remains elevated even after orchiopexy, though the procedure allows for **easier surveillance and examination**. - This is one of the **most important clinical features** of cryptorchidism and a key reason for early surgical correction. - Even a **corrected cryptorchid testis** maintains higher cancer risk compared to normally descended testes. *Secondary sexual characteristics are universally normal* - In **unilateral cryptorchidism** (90% of cases), the normally descended contralateral testis produces **adequate testosterone** for normal secondary sexual development. - However, in **bilateral cryptorchidism** or if the descended testis is functionally impaired, **testosterone deficiency** can occur, leading to delayed or abnormal sexual development. - Therefore, secondary sexual characteristics are **not universally normal** in all cases of undescended testis. *Hormonal therapy is effective* - Hormonal therapy with **hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)** or **GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone)** has **limited and inconsistent effectiveness**. - Success rates are generally **low** (10-30%), particularly for truly undescended testes (as opposed to retractile testes). - **Orchiopexy** (surgical correction) remains the **definitive treatment**, ideally performed between **6-18 months of age** to optimize fertility potential. *More common on the right side* - Undescended testis is actually **slightly more common on the left side** (~55-60%) than the right (~40-45%). - **Bilateral cryptorchidism** occurs in approximately 10-20% of cases. - There is no significant right-sided predilection.

Q: In which of the following surgeries is monopolar cautery preferred over bipolar cautery?

Surgery of the Hip. ***Surgery of the Hip*** - **Monopolar cautery** is preferred in surgeries like hip surgery where a larger area needs to be coagulated, as it provides a wider field of effect and can be more efficient for **deep tissue coagulation**. - Its mechanism relies on the current passing through the patient to a large **dispersive electrode (grounding pad)**, making it suitable for extensive tissue work. *Hand Surgery* - In **hand surgery**, delicate structures like nerves and tendons are abundant, making **bipolar cautery** safer due to its localized current flow and reduced risk of inadvertent thermal spread. - **Bipolar cautery** limits the current to a small area between the two prongs of the instrument, thus minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. *Surgery around Penis* - **Bipolar cautery** is generally preferred in sensitive areas like the penis, due to its localized effect and reduced risk of thermal injury to adjacent delicate structures. - The avoidance of current passing through the body to a grounding pad in **bipolar modality** is especially important in areas with potential for nerve damage or scarring. *Surgery around the face* - Surgically around the face often involves delicate tissues and structures where **bipolar cautery** is favored to prevent widespread thermal damage and minimize scarring or nerve injury. - The confined current path of **bipolar cautery** makes it ideal for precision work in cosmetic or reconstructive facial surgery.

Q: The Grayhack shunt is established between which of the following?

Corpora cavernosa and saphenous vein. ***Corpora cavernosa and saphenous vein*** - The **Grayhack shunt** is a proximal **cavernosal-venous shunt** that connects the corpus cavernosum to the **great saphenous vein**. - This procedure surgically manages **refractory priapism** by diverting blood away from the trapped penile cavernosal spaces into the systemic venous circulation. - It is performed when distal and proximal corporeal shunts have failed. *Corpora cavernosa and dorsal vein* - This describes the **Barry shunt**, which connects the corpus cavernosum to the **deep dorsal vein**. - The Al-Ghorab shunt (sometimes confused) is actually a **distal corporo-glanular shunt** involving open excision of glans tissue — not a dorsal vein shunt. *Corpora cavernosa and glans* - This describes **distal cavernosal-glanular shunts** such as the **Winter shunt** (percutaneous needle) or **Ebbehoj shunt** (scalpel incision), which create a communication between the corpus cavernosum and the glans penis. - These are **first-line** surgical options for priapism but are distinct from the proximal Grayhack shunt. *Corpora cavernosa and corpora spongiosa* - This describes the **Quackels shunt**, a **proximal cavernosal-spongiosal shunt** connecting the corpora cavernosa to the corpus spongiosum. - Also used for refractory priapism, but anatomically and surgically distinct from the Grayhack (cavernosal-venous) shunt.

Q: Prostate cancer that is limited to the capsule and not the urethra would be staged as -

T2. ***T2*** - A T2 stage indicates that the prostate cancer is **confined within the prostate capsule**, meaning it has not spread beyond the outer layer of the prostate gland. - While it is not limited to the urethra, the key defining characteristic of T2 is **capsular confinement**, which is described in the question. *T1* - T1 stage prostate cancer is typically **non-palpable** on digital rectal exam (DRE) and not visible on imaging. - It is often found incidentally, for example, during a **transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)** for benign prostatic hyperplasia. *T3* - A T3 stage indicates that the prostate cancer has **extended beyond the prostate capsule**, but has not metastasized to distant sites. - This typically involves invasion into the **seminal vesicles** or other periprostatic tissues. *T0* - T0 means there is **no evidence of primary tumor**, which is not consistent with a diagnosed prostate cancer. - This staging is used when there is no measurable tumor.

Q: A 45-year-old male presenting with penile cancer extending up to the glans penis is treated with which of the following surgical options?

Partial penectomy with a 2 cm margin. ***Partial penectomy with a 2 cm margin*** - For **penile cancer** confined to the glans, **partial penectomy** is the standard surgical approach to achieve local control while preserving penile length. - Historically, a **2 cm tumor-free margin** was recommended as the standard of care (reflected in older guidelines and exam questions). - **Modern evidence** suggests that narrower margins of **5-8 mm** are oncologically safe with comparable local control rates, but the **2 cm margin** was the traditional teaching and remains the expected answer for this question context. *Simple circumcision* - **Simple circumcision** is indicated for benign conditions like **phimosis** or **premalignant lesions** (carcinoma in situ), not for invasive cancer. - It does not provide adequate oncological clearance for **invasive penile cancer** and carries a high risk of **local recurrence**. *Partial penectomy with a 4 cm margin* - A **4 cm margin** is excessively radical and would result in unnecessary loss of penile length and function. - Even by historical standards, this exceeds the recommended **2 cm margin** and would cause significant functional and psychological morbidity. *Partial penectomy with inguinal lymph node dissection* - **Inguinal lymph node dissection** is indicated when there is **clinical or radiological evidence of lymph node metastasis** or high-risk pathological features. - Without evidence of nodal involvement, routine prophylactic lymphadenectomy is not performed due to significant morbidity (lymphedema, wound complications). - The question does not specify nodal involvement, making this option unnecessarily aggressive.

Q: A 45-year-old male is diagnosed with carcinoma of the penis. Which lymph nodes should the surgeon primarily consider for potential metastasis?

Inguinal lymph nodes (located in the groin region). ***Inguinal lymph nodes (located in the groin region)*** - The lymphatic drainage of the penis primarily bypasses the internal nodal basins and drains directly to the **superficial and deep inguinal lymph nodes**. - Metastasis to these nodes is the **most common initial spread** in penile carcinoma, making them the primary targets for surgical evaluation and dissection. *Para-aortic lymph nodes (located near the aorta)* - These nodes are typically involved in more advanced or widespread metastatic disease, following initial spread to the pelvic nodes. - They are not considered the primary draining lymph nodes for penile carcinoma. *External iliac lymph nodes (located along the external iliac vessels)* - While part of the pelvic lymph node chain, the external iliac nodes are usually involved after metastasis to the inguinal nodes, or in cases of direct invasion of the pelvic floor. - They are not the first echelon of lymphatic drainage for the penis. *Internal iliac lymph nodes (located along the internal iliac vessels)* - These nodes are involved in lymphatic drainage from organs like the bladder, prostate, and rectum. - The lymphatic drainage of the penis primarily bypasses these nodes for initial metastasis.

Q: A young male presents with a testicular mass on the right side. The AFP is elevated while the HCG is normal. The most appropriate next step is

Orchidectomy. ***Radical Inguinal Orchidectomy*** - In a patient who already presents with a **testicular mass** and **elevated AFP** (suggesting non-seminomatous germ cell tumor), the most appropriate next step is **radical inguinal orchidectomy**. - This procedure is both **diagnostic and therapeutic**, providing tissue for histopathological confirmation while removing the primary tumor. - The standard management sequence is: clinical examination → scrotal USG → tumor markers → **orchidectomy** → staging imaging → further treatment based on histology and stage. - Since the mass is already identified and tumor markers are done, proceeding directly to orchidectomy is appropriate. *USG* - Scrotal **ultrasound** is typically the **first imaging modality** when a testicular mass is suspected or palpated. - However, in this scenario, the mass is already clinically identified and tumor markers (AFP) have been measured, suggesting that initial workup including USG has likely been completed. - USG would have been the appropriate answer if the question asked for the "first investigation" before tumor markers were done. *Biopsy* - Direct **biopsy** of a testicular mass is **contraindicated** due to the high risk of tumor cell spillage along the needle tract, which can alter staging and worsen prognosis. - Testicular cancer is diagnosed via **radical inguinal orchidectomy**, not biopsy. *Wait and Watch* - A **wait and watch** approach is inappropriate and dangerous in the presence of a **testicular mass with elevated AFP**, which strongly suggests malignancy (non-seminomatous germ cell tumor). - Delayed treatment can lead to disease progression, metastasis, and poorer outcomes.

Q: A 54 year old woman is diagnosed as having carcinoma of the renal pelvis of size less than 4 cm without any metastasis. The best treatment option is

Radical Nephroureterectomy. ***Radical Nephroureterectomy*** - Carcinoma of the **renal pelvis** is a type of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Because of the multifocal nature and higher risk of recurrence of UTUC, **radical nephroureterectomy** (which includes removal of the kidney, ureter, and bladder cuff) is the standard treatment, even for smaller tumors. - Unlike renal cell carcinoma, partial nephrectomy is generally not recommended for renal pelvis carcinomas due to the risk of leaving behind residual disease in the ureter or bladder cuff. *Partial nephrectomy* - This is generally reserved for small, localized **renal cell carcinomas**, especially when kidney function preservation is a concern (e.g., solitary kidney, bilateral tumors). - For **renal pelvis carcinomas**, partial nephrectomy is associated with a higher risk of local recurrence because of the potential for tumor spread within the ureter and multifocal disease. *Chemotherapy and immunotherapy* - **Chemotherapy** (often cisplatin-based) might be used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy for locally advanced or high-risk UTUC, or for metastatic disease. It is not the primary curative treatment for localized disease. - **Immunotherapy** is typically reserved for advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that has progressed after chemotherapy. *Palliative Radiotherapy* - **Radiotherapy** has a limited role in the primary curative treatment of renal pelvis carcinoma. - It is mainly used in a **palliative setting** for symptom control (e.g., bone metastases, local pain) in advanced or metastatic disease, not for localized, resectable tumors.

Q: A 65 year old male presents with CA prostate. The tumour is limited to the capsule and it is palpable on PR examination. The patient is diagnosed as stage T2a. What is the most appropriate treatment option?

Surgical removal of the prostate (Radical prostatectomy). ***Surgical removal of the prostate (Radical prostatectomy)*** - **Radical prostatectomy** is the **definitive treatment of choice** for **localized prostate cancer (T2a)** in patients with **good life expectancy (>10 years)**. - For a **65-year-old patient** with tumor confined to the prostate, **surgical removal offers excellent disease control** and potential cure. - This is the **preferred option** when the patient is **medically fit for surgery** and has adequate life expectancy. *External beam radiation therapy* - **External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)** is also an effective treatment for **localized T2a prostate cancer** with comparable long-term survival outcomes. - However, **radical prostatectomy is generally preferred** in younger, healthier patients as it: - Provides definitive pathological staging - Allows for immediate assessment of surgical margins - Preserves radiation as a salvage option if needed - EBRT is better suited for patients who are **not surgical candidates** due to comorbidities or patient preference. *Active surveillance* - **Active surveillance** is appropriate for **very low-risk prostate cancer** (T1c, PSA <10, Gleason ≤6). - For **T2a disease** (palpable tumor), the risk of progression is significant, making active surveillance **not the most appropriate first-line option**. - Would be considered only in patients with limited life expectancy or significant comorbidities. *Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)* - **ADT** is used for **advanced, locally advanced, or metastatic prostate cancer** to reduce testosterone and slow tumor growth. - It is **not curative** and not appropriate as **monotherapy for localized T2a disease**. - May be used as adjuvant therapy with radiation in higher-risk cases, but not as primary treatment alone.

Question 1

A patient presents with abdominal swelling and inguinal lymphadenopathy. Considering the clinical presentation, which carcinoma is most likely associated with these findings?

Accepted Answer

Ca penis

Answer

Ca testis

Answer

Ca prostate

Answer

Ca bladder

Question 2

Which of the following statements about undescended testis is true?

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of malignancy

Answer

Hormonal therapy is effective

Answer

More common on the right side

Answer

Secondary sexual characteristics are universally normal

Question 3

In which of the following surgeries is monopolar cautery preferred over bipolar cautery?

Accepted Answer

Surgery of the Hip

Answer

Surgery around Penis

Answer

Hand Surgery

Answer

Surgery around the face

Question 4

The Grayhack shunt is established between which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Corpora cavernosa and saphenous vein

Answer

Corpora cavernosa and dorsal vein

Answer

Corpora cavernosa and glans

Answer

Corpora cavernosa and corpora spongiosa

Question 5

Prostate cancer that is limited to the capsule and not the urethra would be staged as -

Accepted Answer

T2

Answer

T1

Answer

T3

Answer

T0

Question 6

A 45-year-old male presenting with penile cancer extending up to the glans penis is treated with which of the following surgical options?

Accepted Answer

Partial penectomy with a 2 cm margin

Answer

Simple circumcision

Answer

Partial penectomy with a 4 cm margin

Answer

Partial penectomy with inguinal lymph node dissection

Question 7

A 45-year-old male is diagnosed with carcinoma of the penis. Which lymph nodes should the surgeon primarily consider for potential metastasis?

Accepted Answer

Inguinal lymph nodes (located in the groin region)

Answer

Para-aortic lymph nodes (located near the aorta)

Answer

External iliac lymph nodes (located along the external iliac vessels)

Answer

Internal iliac lymph nodes (located along the internal iliac vessels)

Question 8

A young male presents with a testicular mass on the right side. The AFP is elevated while the HCG is normal. The most appropriate next step is

Accepted Answer

Orchidectomy

Answer

Biopsy

Answer

USG

Answer

Wait and Watch

Question 9

A 54 year old woman is diagnosed as having carcinoma of the renal pelvis of size less than 4 cm without any metastasis. The best treatment option is

Accepted Answer

Radical Nephroureterectomy

Answer

Palliative Radiotherapy

Answer

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy

Answer

Partial nephrectomy

Question 10

A 65 year old male presents with CA prostate. The tumour is limited to the capsule and it is palpable on PR examination. The patient is diagnosed as stage T2a. What is the most appropriate treatment option?

Accepted Answer

Surgical removal of the prostate (Radical prostatectomy)

Answer

External beam radiation therapy

Answer

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)

Answer

Active surveillance

Urology — MCQs

Urology — MCQs

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