Free Medical Council of Canada MCCQE Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 6

Palliative radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for painful bone metastases, including those from prostate cancer. It provides localized pain relief and functional improvement.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Oncology, “Metastatic Bone Pain”:

“External beam radiotherapy is first-line treatment for localized bone pain from metastases. Relief occurs within days to weeks.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Internal Medicine > Oncology > 52-1):

“Candidates must identify treatment options for symptom control in metastatic cancer, including palliative radiotherapy for painful bone lesions.”

Androgen deprivation therapy (B, C) treats systemic disease but doesn’t address acute pain. Opioids (D) may be used, but radiotherapy provides disease-targeted relief. Intrathecal steroids (A) are not standard for prostate metastases.

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Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

This patient has end-stage heart failure with frequent hospitalizations, progressive symptoms, and functional decline. The most appropriate next step is to initiate a goals-of-care conversation, including acknowledgment of the prognosis.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Cardiology / Palliative Care:

“In advanced heart failure with recurrent admissions and functional decline, a goals-of-care discussion should be initiated to align treatment with patient values.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Cardiology > 34-4 / ELOM > 90-2):

“Candidates must recognize end-stage illness and provide appropriate communication and palliative care planning.”

Deactivating the defibrillator (B) may be appropriate later but should follow a goals-of-care conversation. Reassuring (C) ignores the true clinical trajectory.

For pregnant women with hepatitis C infection , vertical transmission risk is approximately 5–6% and is higher with high maternal viral load or HIV coinfection. However, MCCQE objectives emphasize that breastfeeding is not contraindicated in mothers with hepatitis C, as HCV is not transmitted through breast milk. Breastfeeding should only be temporarily avoided if there are cracked or bleeding nipples, which could expose the infant to blood.

Termination of pregnancy is not recommended solely due to hepatitis C infection. Pregnancy does not reliably increase viral load in a clinically significant way, and routine antiviral therapy during pregnancy is generally not recommended because current direct-acting antivirals are not yet standard in pregnancy. The infant does not automatically require antiviral treatment; instead, postnatal monitoring with HCV RNA testing and/or antibody testing at the appropriate age is recommended. While chronic hepatitis C increases long-term risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, this is not an inevitable outcome.

Therefore, reassuring her that breastfeeding is safe is the most appropriate counselling point.

The patient is alert and capable of making his own decisions. The most ethical and respectful approach is to ensure he understands the risks and accept his choice. Holding his bed maintains continuity of care. Forcing him to stay (C) or discharging him AMA (A) is inappropriate if he intends to return.

Toronto Notes 2023 – ELOM, Consent and Autonomy:

“Capable patients have the right to refuse or leave treatment. Physicians must ensure informed decision-making and maintain therapeutic rapport.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – ELOM > Capacity and Patient Autonomy:

“Candidates must respect a capable patient’s right to leave care after informed discussion of risks and alternatives.”

Offering to enter his apartment (E) is inappropriate and unethical. Oral antibiotics (B) may not be clinically appropriate given hypotension.

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Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Travel to rural Cambodia poses a high risk of malaria, which can be life-threatening in pregnancy. Antimalarial prophylaxis is strongly recommended for pregnant women traveling to endemic regions. Chloroquine or mefloquine (depending on resistance patterns) may be used in pregnancy under specialist guidance.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Infectious Disease / Travel Medicine:

“Malaria prophylaxis is indicated in pregnant women traveling to endemic regions. The risk of severe malaria and poor fetal outcomes is high.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Public Health > 65-3: Travel Medicine and Pregnancy):

“Candidates must provide preventive care to pregnant travelers including vaccination and malaria prophylaxis.”

Tetanus boosters (D) are given every 10 years. Hep B Ig (B) is for acute post-exposure prophylaxis. Ciprofloxacin (C) is contraindicated in pregnancy.

A limited vocabulary (fewer than 50 words by age 2–3 years) and reduced social interaction (limited interest in peers) raise concern for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Screening for ASD is the most appropriate next step.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Pediatrics, Development and Behaviour:

“Red flags for autism include delayed language, limited social reciprocity, and poor peer interaction. Screening should be initiated early when clinical signs are present.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – Pediatrics > Developmental Disorders:

“Candidates must identify key signs of ASD and initiate appropriate screening and early intervention.”

Multilingual households do not typically cause such delays (E is incorrect). ADHD (B) presents with attention/hyperactivity issues, not language/social delay. Reassurance (A) is inappropriate. Neurology referral (C) may follow but is not first-line.

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This child presents with bilateral red, itchy, watery eyes for 2 weeks without purulent discharge, pain, or visual changes—classic features of allergic conjunctivitis . MCCQE objectives emphasize distinguishing allergic conjunctivitis from infectious causes. Allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by pruritus (key symptom), tearing, conjunctival injection, and often a history of atopy or seasonal triggers. Vision remains normal, and there is no mucopurulent discharge (which would suggest bacterial infection) or vesicular lesions/dendritic ulcers (suggesting viral/herpetic causes).

Topical antihistamines (often combined with mast cell stabilizers) are first-line therapy and effectively reduce itching and redness by blocking histamine-mediated inflammation.

Topical antibiotics are unnecessary without bacterial features. Antivirals are reserved for suspected herpetic disease. Antifungals are rarely indicated in routine conjunctivitis. Topical glucocorticoids are not first-line and may cause adverse effects (e.g., increased intraocular pressure) and should only be used under ophthalmologic supervision.

Therefore, a topical antihistamine is the most appropriate initial treatment.

Ramipril, an ACE inhibitor, is contraindicated in pregnancy due to risks of fetal renal dysgenesis, oligohydramnios, and fetal death, especially in the second and third trimesters.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Obstetrics, Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy:

“ACE inhibitors and ARBs are contraindicated in pregnancy due to their teratogenic potential and adverse fetal effects.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – Obstetrics > Hypertension in Pregnancy:

“Candidates must identify safe antihypertensives during pregnancy and contraindicated medications such as ACE inhibitors and ARBs.”

Methyldopa, labetalol, nifedipine, and hydralazine are considered safe and are commonly used in pregnancy.

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Patients with sickle cell anemia often develop functional asplenia due to repeated splenic infarction. The spleen plays a critical role in clearing encapsulated organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis. Functional asplenia significantly increases the risk of overwhelming sepsis.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Hematology, “Sickle Cell Disease”:

“Functional asplenia is common in sickle cell disease and increases the risk for sepsis due to impaired clearance of encapsulated bacteria.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Pediatrics > 77-2: Hematology):

“Candidates must recognize that patients with functional asplenia are at increased risk for sepsis and require prompt evaluation for fever.”

Neutrophil dysfunction (B) and immunoglobulin deficiency (C) are not typical features of sickle cell anemia. Chronic anemia (D) and iron overload (E) do not directly increase sepsis risk.

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Idiopathic hirsutism is the most likely diagnosis because this patient has isolated hirsutism with normal vital signs, normal BMI, and regular menstrual cycles , suggesting preserved ovulation and no clinically significant endocrine disturbance. MCCQE objectives emphasize that the most common causes of hirsutism are PCOS and idiopathic hirsutism; PCOS typically includes menstrual irregularity/oligo-ovulation and often metabolic features (overweight, insulin resistance), none of which are present here. Androgen-secreting ovarian tumors (hilar cell or Sertoli–Leydig cell tumors) usually cause rapid onset, severe hyperandrogenism and virilization (deepening voice, clitoromegaly, marked acne) and often disrupt menses—features not described. Nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia can present with hirsutism, but it more commonly associates with acne, infertility, or menstrual abnormalities and requires biochemical suspicion rather than being the “most likely” with normal cycles. Therefore, idiopathic hirsutism—often due to increased peripheral androgen sensitivity or local 5-alpha reductase activity—is the best fit.