American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What can lead to increased need for palliative radiation therapy in breast cancer patients with bone metastases?

1. Lytic bone metastases

2. Hormone therapy

3. Previous surgeries

4. Chemotherapy complications

The correct answer is: Lytic bone metastases

The increased need for palliative radiation therapy in breast cancer patients with bone metastases is closely associated with the presence of lytic bone metastases. Lytic lesions occur when cancer cells invade and destroy bone tissue, leading to bone pain, structural weakening, and an increased risk of fractures. Palliative radiation therapy is an effective approach to alleviate pain caused by these lytic lesions, aiming to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from bone metastases. It acts by targeting the affected areas to reduce pain and control disease progression. While hormone therapy, previous surgeries, and chemotherapy complications can impact a patient's overall treatment plan and may create additional challenges or needs, they do not directly correlate with the specific increase in demand for palliative radiation therapy in the context of managing pain associated with lytic bone metastases. Therefore, the presence of lytic bone metastases is the key factor driving the need for this targeted form of palliative care in these patients.