American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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During the follow-up for melanoma, which component is critical for assessing the disease progression?

Liver biopsy
CBC
Amylase levels
Stool occult blood test

The correct answer is: CBC

In the context of melanoma follow-up, a complete blood count (CBC) serves as a valuable tool for assessing overall health as well as detecting possible effects of the disease or treatment. While it may not directly indicate melanoma progression, any abnormal findings—such as anemia or thrombocytopenia—could suggest systemic involvement or complications related to the cancer. Regular monitoring of blood parameters helps in recognizing changes in the patient’s condition promptly. Other tests listed, such as liver biopsies, could provide localized information about metastasis if there were suspicion of liver involvement, but they are not part of routine follow-up for melanoma. Amylase levels are primarily related to pancreatic function and not directly to melanoma monitoring. The stool occult blood test serves to screen for gastrointestinal bleeding or malignancies but does not provide information on melanoma progression specifically. Hence, the CBC stands out as a critical component in the routine follow-up assessments for patients with melanoma.