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Lung cancer screening — USMLE Step 2 CK MCQ

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HardPreventive Medicine & BiostatisticsLung cancer screeningUSMLE Step 2 CK

A 60-year-old Asian American woman comes to the urgent care clinic because of a health maintenance visit. History and focused examination are notable for 62-year-old current smoker with a 35-pack-year history and no symptoms. Temperature is 98.6°F (37.0°C), blood pressure is 126/78 mmHg, pulse is 84/min, respirations are 16/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical examination confirms the key finding and shows no unrelated abnormality that would better explain the presentation. The patient has no symptoms, no abnormal physical examination findings, and no previous result that would change routine evidence-based screening. Which of the following is the most appropriate screening test?

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Correct answer: B — Annual low-dose CT scan of the chest

The vignette describes Lung cancer screening, supported by 62-year-old current smoker with a 35-pack-year history and no symptoms. Annual low-dose CT scan of the chest is the single best answer because it matches the diagnostic or management priority in this clinical setting. The other choices are plausible alternatives in related presentations, but they do not best fit the timing, findings, and guideline-directed approach described here.

Reference: USPSTF 2021 Lung Cancer Screening Recommendation