Question

Difficulty: EasyClinical Preventive Services and Screening

Match each patient presentation to the most appropriate United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening recommendation.

  • 65-year-old man who smoked 1 pack per day for 20 years and quit 5 years agoOne-time screening with abdominal ultrasound
  • 65-year-old healthy woman with no risk factors for fracturesDual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
  • 24-year-old sexually active woman with a normal Pap smear at age 21Cervical cytology every 3 years
  • 45-year-old healthy man with no significant medical or family historyInitiation of colorectal cancer screening

Answer

The former smoker matches to abdominal ultrasound; the 65-year-old woman matches to DEXA; the 24-year-old woman matches to cervical cytology; and the 45-year-old man matches to colorectal cancer screening.
Each patient's demographic and clinical profile matches a specific Grade A or Grade B recommendation from the USPSTF. Men aged 65 to 75 with a smoking history need AAA screening via ultrasound. Women aged 65 and older need osteoporosis screening via DEXA. Women aged 21 to 29 need Pap testing every 3 years. Average-risk adults must begin colorectal screening at age 45.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the 65-year-old male former smoker.
Identify the indication for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening.
Men aged 65-75 with any smoking history require a one-time abdominal ultrasound to screen for AAA.
2
Analyze the 65-year-old healthy woman.
Identify the indication for osteoporosis screening.
All women 65 and older should undergo bone density screening with a DEXA scan.
3
Analyze the 24-year-old woman.
Identify the indication for cervical cancer screening.
Women aged 21-29 should have a Pap smear (cervical cytology) every 3 years.
4
Analyze the 45-year-old man.
Identify the indication for colorectal cancer screening initiation.
Routine screening for colorectal cancer begins at age 45 for average-risk individuals.

Key Concept

USPSTF guidelines for routine age- and risk-appropriate clinical preventive screenings.
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