Topic:Laryngeal tumor, oral and esophageal tumors.
Question: A 65 year old lady has progressively increasing dysphagia for the last six months. She also has significant weight loss. How will you investigate her?
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- Medical History and Physical Examination:
- Obtain a detailed medical history, including the onset and duration of dysphagia, associated symptoms, past medical conditions, and any relevant medication use.
- Perform a thorough physical examination, focusing on the head and neck, chest, and abdomen, looking for any signs of abnormalities or underlying conditions.
- Upper Endoscopy (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, EGD):
- EGD allows direct visualization of the esophagus, stomach, and the upper part of the small intestine.
- It helps identify structural abnormalities, such as strictures, tumors, or ulcers, that may be causing dysphagia.
- Biopsies can be taken during the procedure for further analysis.
- Barium Swallow Study (Esophagography):
- A barium swallow is a radiographic study where the patient swallows a barium contrast material that coats the esophagus.
- X-ray images are then taken to evaluate the swallowing process and detect any structural abnormalities or functional abnormalities, such as motility disorders.
- Esophageal Manometry:
- Esophageal manometry measures the pressure and coordination of esophageal muscle contractions.
- It helps assess the motility of the esophagus and can identify conditions like achalasia or esophageal spasm that could contribute to dysphagia.
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
- EUS involves the use of an endoscope with an ultrasound probe to obtain detailed images of the esophageal wall and surrounding structures.
- It helps evaluate the depth of tumor invasion and the involvement of nearby lymph nodes.
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan:
- CT scan of the chest and abdomen can provide detailed cross-sectional images and help identify tumors, lymph node enlargement, or other abnormalities.
- Laboratory Investigations:
- Complete blood count (CBC) to assess for anemia or other blood abnormalities.
- Liver function tests to evaluate liver function and exclude liver metastases.
- Tumor markers (e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19-9) if malignancy is suspected.
- Additional tests based on clinical suspicion:
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan may be considered to evaluate for metastatic disease or assess tumor activity.
- Further specialized tests, such as esophageal pH monitoring or impedance studies, may be required if gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or other esophageal motility disorders are suspected.
Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series: Better Than UPSC Medico? Introduction The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most competitive exams in the world. The Medical Science optional is a popular choice for many candidates, as it covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to the UPSC syllabus. There are many different test series available for the Medical Science optional, but one of the most popular is the Medicivils test series. Medicivils is a coaching institute that specializes in the Medical Science optional, and their test series is known for its high quality and comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. In this article, we will compare the Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series to the UPSC Medico Test Series, and discuss why Medicivils is the better choice for UPSC CSE aspirants. Quality of Questions The quality of the questions in the Medicivils test series is very high. The questions are well-drafted and cover a wide range of topics from the syllabus. The questions are also challenging enough to test the candidates’ knowledge and understanding of the subject. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, has been criticized for the quality of its questions. Some candidates have complained that the questions are too repetitive and do not adequately cover the syllabus. Comprehensiveness The Medicivils test series covers the entire Medical Science syllabus in great detail. The test series includes full-length tests, subject-wise tests, and topic-wise tests. This ensures that the candidates are thoroughly prepared for all aspects of the exam. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, is not as comprehensive. The test series does not cover all of the topics in the syllabus in equal detail. Additionally, the test series does not include any topic-wise tests. Model Answer Sheets The Medicivils test series provides high-quality model answer sheets for all of its tests. The model answer sheets are written by experienced faculty members and provide detailed explanations for all of the questions. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, does not provide model answer sheets for all of its tests. Even for the tests that do have model answer sheets, the quality is often not up to par. Personal Mentorship Medicivils offers personal mentorship to all of its students. The students can get their papers evaluated by experienced faculty members and receive personalized feedback. This helps the students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and to improve their performance. The UPSC Medico test series does not offer personal mentorship to its students. The students do not have the opportunity to get their papers evaluated by experienced faculty members and receive personalized feedback. Video Solutions Medicivils provides video solutions for all of its subject-wise tests. The video solutions are taught by experienced faculty members and provide detailed explanations for all of the questions. The UPSC Medico test series does not provide video solutions for its tests. Evaluation Medicivils evaluates the students’ papers within 7 days. The students’ papers are evaluated by experienced faculty members and they receive a detailed evaluation report. The UPSC Medico test series takes longer to evaluate the students’ papers. The students often have to wait for 10-15 days to receive their evaluation reports. Conclusion Overall, the Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series is the better choice for UPSC CSE aspirants. The Medicivils test series offers high-quality questions, comprehensive coverage of the syllabus, model answer sheets, personal mentorship, video solutions, and prompt evaluation. The UPSC Medico test series, on the other hand, has been criticized for the quality of its questions, lack of comprehensive coverage of the syllabus, lack of model answer sheets, lack of personal mentorship, lack of video solutions, and delayed evaluation. If you are serious about cracking the UPSC CSE with the Medical Science optional, then the Medicivils Medical Science Optional Test Series is the best choice for you.
