American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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Which of the following tests is typically NOT part of stage 4 melanoma assessment?

CBC
LDH
Brain MRI
Endoscopy

The correct answer is: Endoscopy

Stage 4 melanoma is characterized by distant metastasis, meaning the cancer has spread beyond its original site to other parts of the body. The assessment for stage 4 melanoma usually involves a comprehensive evaluation to determine the extent of the disease. Common tests that are part of this assessment include a complete blood count (CBC), which can help identify any underlying anemia or other blood-related issues; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is a significant prognostic marker in melanoma and can indicate tumor burden; and brain MRI, which is crucial for detecting potential metastases in the brain, given that melanoma has a high propensity for spread to the central nervous system. Endoscopy, on the other hand, is not typically utilized in the assessment of stage 4 melanoma. This diagnostic procedure is more relevant for examining the gastrointestinal tract or respiratory system, primarily used in contexts related to other types of cancer or disease processes where internal visualization is necessary. Thus, it does not play a standard role in the evaluation of stage 4 melanoma, making it the least relevant choice in this context.