American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Patients who undergo successful resection of stage II or III non-small cell lung cancer should receive:

1. Palliative care only

2. Radiation therapy only

3. Adjuvant chemotherapy with Cisplatin

4. Chemotherapy with Tamoxifen

The correct answer is: Adjuvant chemotherapy with Cisplatin

Patients who undergo successful resection of stage II or III non-small cell lung cancer are typically recommended to receive adjuvant chemotherapy, specifically with a regimen that includes Cisplatin. This approach aims to eliminate any remaining cancer cells after surgery, reducing the risk of recurrence and improving overall survival rates. Adjuvant chemotherapy is an evidence-based intervention demonstrated to enhance outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer at these stages. Cisplatin, often used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, has shown effectiveness in clinical trials, leading to its recommendation as a standard part of the post-surgical treatment plan for these patients. Choosing palliative care only would not be appropriate for these patients given the potential for further curative treatment after resection. Radiation therapy alone is generally not sufficient as a standalone treatment in this context, as it does not address systemic disease. Chemotherapy with Tamoxifen is not indicated for non-small cell lung cancer and is more traditionally associated with hormonal therapy for specific types of breast cancer. Therefore, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy with Cisplatin is the preferred approach for improving prognosis in these patients following surgical resection.