American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the ABIM Certification Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Get ready to succeed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What must patients report during yearly pelvic examinations while on tamoxifen?

  1. Change in appetite

  2. Abnormal vaginal bleeding

  3. Skin rashes

  4. Joint pain

The correct answer is: Abnormal vaginal bleeding

Patients taking tamoxifen need to report any abnormal vaginal bleeding during their yearly pelvic examinations because tamoxifen can influence the endometrial lining. This medication is a selective estrogen receptor modulator and can lead to changes in the endometrium, increasing the risk for endometrial hyperplasia and even endometrial cancer over time. Reporting abnormal vaginal bleeding is crucial as it may be an early sign of these complications. Regular monitoring and evaluation are essential for these patients to ensure any potential issues can be detected and addressed promptly. While changes in appetite, skin rashes, and joint pain are important symptoms for patients to be aware of and report during health evaluations, they are not specifically linked to the risks associated with tamoxifen in the same way that abnormal vaginal bleeding is. Thus, abnormal vaginal bleeding is particularly significant and should be closely monitored.