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TEST YOUR IMAGE IQ

Progressively Enlarging Mass on the Lower Back

By Ted Rosen, MD | March 21, 2011

Professor of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine; Chief of Dermatology at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

Progressively enlarging mass on the lower back of one year duration

TEST YOUR IMAGE IQ: A 29-year-old man, previously in excellent health, presented with a progressively enlarging mass on the lower back of one-year’s duration. Additional complaints included: pain radiating from the area, fatigue, intermittent fever and night sweats, and unexpected weight loss of 30 pounds. Family history was positive for melanoma (paternal grandfather) but not for other neoplasia.

What would be the best initial course of action at this point?

	A. Inform the patient that this is a fatal malignancy and discharge to hospice care
	B. Perform a biopsy with appropriate immunohistochemistry stains
	C. Arrange emergency orthovoltage radiation therapy
	D. Order a PET scan

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TOPIC INDEX

Cancer Types
Breast Breast (HER2+) Breast (Triple-Negative) CML Colorectal Gastrointestinal GIST Genitourinary Gynecologic Head & Neck	Hematology Kidney (Renal Cell) Leukemia Lung Lymphoma Melanoma Multiple Myeloma Ovarian Prostate Sarcoma
Supportive Care	More Topics
Bone Metastases End-of-Life Care Palliative Care	Ethics in Oncology Practice Management Practice & Policy

All Topics