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PPI Prognostication — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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HardSupportive & Palliative OncologyPPI PrognosticationSCE Medical Oncology

A patient with advanced cancer has PPS 40%, severely reduced oral intake, peripheral oedema and dyspnoea at rest, without delirium. What is the Palliative Prognostic Index score and its usual threshold interpretation?

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

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — 9.5; it exceeds the threshold associated with survival under 3 weeks

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as C · B = shown as E

C is correct: PPS 30–50=2.5, severely reduced intake=2.5, oedema=1 and dyspnoea at rest=3.5, total 9.5; no delirium points are added. A omits dyspnoea; B omits oedema; D adds a non-existent point; E wrongly scores PPS 40% as 4 rather than 2.5.

Reference: Palliative Prognostic Index components and validation (ecancermedicalscience 2021): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8183653/