Posted by USMLE from IP 69.247.156.235 on April 26, 2007 at 09:42:07:
A 37-year-old man with a prolonged history of alcohol abuse, present to his local physician asking for help in stopping drinking. He states that he has not felt well over the last couple of months and has lost around 30 lbs. He also smokes 1 pack of cigarettes/day and admits to the occasional use of heroin. Physical examination is significant for bilateral lower extremity edema. A complete blood count and chemistry profile reveal a normocytic anemia, high red blood cell distribution width, and low serum albumin further testing demonstrates elevated levels of carcinoembryonic antigen. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A—bronchogenic carcinoma
B---colon cancer
c—gastric cancer
d ---hepatocellular carcinoma
e—pancreatic cancer