nerdexam
Test_Prep

USMLE · Question #477

A new blood test to detect prostate cancer is evaluated in 300 male volunteers. A needle biopsy of the prostate gland is done on all men with serum prostate- specific antigen concentrations greater th

The correct answer is D. Prostate biopsies of men with test results equal to or below 5 ng/mL. See the full explanation below for the reasoning.

Question

A new blood test to detect prostate cancer is evaluated in 300 male volunteers. A needle biopsy of the prostate gland is done on all men with serum prostate- specific antigen concentrations greater than 5ng/mL (N < 4). One hundred men undergo biopsy procedures; 90 are found to have prostate cancer, and five are found to have chronic prostatitis. Which of the following is necessary to calculate the sensitivity of this test?

Options

  • AIncidence of chronic prostatitis in the general population
  • BNumber of men with test results greater than 5 ng/mL and a normal biopsy speciemen
  • CPrevalence of chronic prostatitis in the general population
  • DProstate biopsies of men with test results equal to or below 5 ng/mL

How the community answered

(30 responses)
  • A
    7% (2)
  • B
    10% (3)
  • C
    3% (1)
  • D
    80% (24)

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Full USMLE Practice