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Early breast cancer — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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ModerateSurgery (post-operative, follow-up)Early breast cancerUSMLE Step 3

A 55-year-old woman has a 1.6-cm invasive ductal carcinoma found on biopsy. It is estrogen receptor positive, HER2 negative, and clinically node negative. She wants breast conservation if possible. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

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

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Correct answer: B — Lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by adjuvant therapy planning

Early-stage breast cancer can often be treated with breast-conserving surgery plus sentinel node staging and adjuvant therapy planning.

Reference: NCCN breast cancer guideline; USMLE Step 3 Content Outline