26th July 2024

An elderly patient with a history of previously treated breast cancer

An elderly patient with a history of previously treated breast cancer is admitted to hospital after sustaining a fracture of her left humeral shaft after a fall. She reports that she has been feeling tired recently, but otherwise, she feels well.

Her admission blood tests show:

Hb 80 g/L (115-165)

WCC 8.7 x 10⁹/L (4.0-11.0)

Platelets 303 x 10⁹/L (150-400)

Serum urea 15 mmol/L (3.0-6.5)

Serum creatinine 170 µmol/L (60-125)

Corrected calcium 2.8 mmol/L (2.15-2.55)

Serum phosphate 0.7 mmol/L (0.7-1.5)

Serum albumin 27 g/L (32-50)

Serum total protein 100 g/L (63-80)

Given the likely diagnosis, which test would you want to perform next as part of your diagnostic work up?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.