Neoplasia USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 67-year-old man with a 3-month history of progressive weight loss and epigastric pain radiating to the back presents with painless jaundice. Vital signs: BP 128/82, HR 94, RR 16, Temp 37.2°C, SpO2 98%. CT reveals a 3-cm hypoattenuating mass in the pancreatic head. Labs show total bilirubin 8.2 mg/dL with direct predominance; alkaline phosphatase elevated at 320 U/L. Notably, he denies alcohol use. Which serum marker best monitors disease burden in this malignancy?
Answer choices
- ACancer antigen 125
- BCancer antigen 15-3
- CBeta human chorionic gonadotropin
- DNeuron specific enolase
- ECancer antigen 19-9Correct answer
- FAlpha-fetoprotein
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