Common pediatric cancers Practice Questions

Question 1

A previously healthy 4-year-old girl is brought to the physician for evaluation of a 3-week history of recurrent vomiting and difficulty walking. Examination shows a broad-based gait and bilateral optic disc swelling. An MRI shows an intracranial tumor. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt is placed, and surgical excision of the tumor is performed. A photomicrograph of a section of the tumor is shown. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Medulloblastoma

Answer

Hemangioblastoma

Answer

Glioblastoma multiforme

Answer

Oligodendroglioma

Answer

Pinealoma

Question 2

A 12-month-old girl is brought to her pediatrician for a checkup and vaccines. The patient’s mother wants to send her to daycare but is worried about exposure to unvaccinated children and other potential sources of infection. The toddler was born at 39 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. She is up to date on all vaccines. She does not walk yet but stands in place and can say a few words. The toddler drinks formula and eats a mixture of soft vegetables and pureed meals. She has no current medications. On physical exam, the vital signs include: temperature 37.0°C (98.6°F), blood pressure 95/50 mm Hg, pulse 130/min, and respiratory rate 28/min. The patient is alert and responsive. The remainder of the exam is unremarkable. Which of the following is most appropriate for this patient at this visit?

Accepted Answer

MMR vaccine

Answer

Meningococcal vaccine

Answer

Gross motor workup and evaluation

Answer

Rotavirus vaccine

Answer

Referral for speech pathology

Question 3

A 3-year-old male child is found to have a disease involving DNA repair. Specifically, he is found to have a defect in the endonucleases involved in the nucleotide excision repair of pyrimidine dimers. Which of the following is a unique late-stage complication of this child's disease?

Accepted Answer

Malignant melanoma

Answer

Telangiectasia

Answer

Colorectal cancer

Answer

Lymphomas

Answer

Endometrial cancer

Question 4

A 4-year-old girl is being followed by the pediatric oncology team after her pediatrician found a palpable abdominal mass towards the right flank 2 weeks ago. Abdominal ultrasonography detected a solid mass in the right kidney without infiltration of the renal vein and inferior vena cava. The contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) confirmed the presence of a solitary mass in the right kidney surrounded by a pseudocapsule consisting of a rim of normal tissue, displacing it medially, and distorting the collecting system. No nodal involvement was detected. In which of the following chromosomes would you expect a genetic abnormality?

Accepted Answer

Chromosome 11

Answer

Chromosome 13

Answer

Chromosome 1

Answer

Chromosome 3

Answer

Chromosome 22

Question 5

A 5-year-old boy presents to his pediatrician with weakness. His father observed that his son seemed less energetic at daycare and kindergarten classes. He was becoming easily fatigued from mild play. His temperature is 98°F (37°C), blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, pulse is 100/min, and respirations are 20/min. Physical exam reveals pale conjunctiva, poor skin turgor and capillary refill, and cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy with assorted bruises throughout his body. A complete blood count reveals the following:

Leukocyte count: 3,000/mm^3
Segmented neutrophils: 30%
Bands: 5%
Eosinophils: 5%
Basophils: 10%
Lymphocytes: 40%
Monocytes: 10%

Hemoglobin: 7.1 g/dL
Hematocrit: 22%
Platelet count: 50,000/mm^3

The most specific diagnostic assessment would most likely show which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Bone marrow biopsy with ≥ 20% lymphoblasts

Answer

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with 9:22 translocation

Answer

Peripheral blood smear with > 50% lymphoblasts

Answer

Flow cytometry with positive terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase staining

Answer

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with 12:21 translocation

Question 6

A research group wants to assess the safety and toxicity profile of a new drug. A clinical trial is conducted with 20 volunteers to estimate the maximum tolerated dose and monitor the apparent toxicity of the drug. The study design is best described as which of the following phases of a clinical trial?

Accepted Answer

Phase I

Answer

Phase 0

Answer

Phase III

Answer

Phase V

Answer

Phase II

Question 7

A 9-year-old girl is brought to her primary care physician because of a 4-month history of early morning headaches and worsening fatigue. The headaches are often accompanied by nausea and sometimes relieved by vomiting. She stopped going to her ballet lessons 2 weeks ago because she was embarrassed about falling frequently and having increasing difficulty performing the steps. Her temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), pulse is 98/min, and blood pressure is 105/65 mm Hg. She has a broad-based gait. While standing with both feet together and raising her arms, closing her eyes does not affect her balance. She is unable to perform rapid, alternating movements with her hands. An MRI of the brain is shown. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Pilocytic astrocytoma

Answer

Ependymoma

Answer

Oligodendroglioma

Answer

Acoustic schwannoma

Answer

Diffuse brainstem glioma

Question 8

A 10-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her parents due to 2 months of a progressively worsening headache. The headaches were initially infrequent and her parents attributed them to stress from a recent move. However, over the last week the headaches have gotten significantly worse and she had one episode of vomiting this morning when she woke up. Her medical history is remarkable for a hospitalization during infancy for bacterial meningitis. On physical exam, the patient has difficulty looking up. The lower portion of her pupil is covered by the lower eyelid and there is sclera visible below the upper eyelid. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is shown. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Pinealoma

Answer

Ependymoma

Answer

Medulloblastoma

Answer

Craniopharyngioma

Answer

Pituitary Adenoma

Question 9

An 11-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department because of high-grade fever, headache, and nausea for 3 days. She avoids looking at any light source because this aggravates her headache. She has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and her last chemotherapy cycle was 2 weeks ago. She appears lethargic. Her temperature is 40.1°C (104.2°F), pulse is 131/min and blood pressure is 100/60 mm Hg. Examination shows a stiff neck. The pupils are equal and reactive to light. Neck flexion results in flexion of the knee and hip. Muscle strength is decreased in the right upper extremity. Deep tendon reflexes are 2+ bilaterally. Sensation is intact. Extraocular movements are normal. Two sets of blood cultures are obtained. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotic therapy

Answer

Acyclovir therapy

Answer

MRI of the brain

Answer

CT scan of the head

Answer

Lumbar puncture

Question 10

An 18-month-old boy is brought to the doctor’s office for evaluation of abdominal pain. The boy looks emaciated and he is now significantly below his growth chart predicted weight. The family history is non-contributory. The vital signs are unremarkable. On physical examination, a non-tender mass is felt in the upper part of the abdomen. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan of his abdomen demonstrates a mass in his right adrenal gland. Biopsy of the mass demonstrates an abundance of small round blue cells. With this biopsy result, which 1 of the following findings would confirm the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Elevation of vanillylmandelic acid in the urine

Answer

MRI showing the intrarenal origin of the mass

Answer

Increased lactic dehydrogenase

Answer

Increased alpha-fetoprotein

Answer

Radiograph of the bone showing the presence of lytic bone lesion with periosteal reaction

Common pediatric cancers

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Leukemias in children

Lymphomas in pediatric population

Brain tumors in children

Neuroblastoma

Wilms tumor

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Retinoblastoma

Ewing sarcoma

Osteosarcoma

Cancer predisposition syndromes

Diagnostic approach to pediatric malignancies

Pediatric oncology treatment principles

Long-term survivor follow-up

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