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Palliative Prognostic Index — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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HardSupportive & Palliative OncologyPalliative Prognostic IndexSCE Medical Oncology

Which statement correctly describes the Palliative Prognostic Index when estimating survival in an inpatient with advanced cancer?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — It uses performance status, oral intake, oedema, dyspnoea at rest and delirium without laboratory tests; a score above 6 predicts under 3 weeks

Option E is correct: the PPI contains five bedside clinical domains and no laboratory variable, with a score above 6 predicting survival under 3 weeks. Option D mixes in laboratory markers from other tools and the wrong cutoff. Option A invents a three-domain score and reverses direction. Option C uses unrelated variables and horizon. Option B imposes restrictions not inherent to the index.

Reference: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline: prognostic evaluation in advanced cancer. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10242351/