Growth and development: growth hormone deficiency: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Growth and development: growth hormone deficiency

Sample item

A 3-year-old with proportionate short stature, a micropenis, and episodes of hypoglycaemia has a single central incisor. Which test confirms the suspected diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Growth hormone stimulation test

Growth hormone deficiency presents with proportionate short stature, midline defects and hypoglycaemia in early life. Diagnosis rests on failure to raise GH above the cut-off after two provocative stimuli, together with low IGF-1 and delayed bone age.

Option by option

  • A. Bone age alone

    Bone age is supportive but nonspecific.

  • B. Growth hormone stimulation test (correct)

    Correct. A stimulation test confirms the GH deficiency.

  • C. Karyotype for 45,X

    A 45,X karyotype is for Turner syndrome in girls.

  • D. Serum IGF-1 alone with no stimulation

    A random IGF-1 supports but does not confirm the diagnosis alone.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Growth hormone stimulation test. Growth hormone deficiency presents with proportionate short stature, midline defects and hypoglycaemia in early life.

Why is "Bone age alone" not the answer?

Bone age is supportive but nonspecific.

Why is "Karyotype for 45,X" not the answer?

A 45,X karyotype is for Turner syndrome in girls.

Why is "Serum IGF-1 alone with no stimulation" not the answer?

A random IGF-1 supports but does not confirm the diagnosis alone.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Growth and development: growth hormone deficiency in Pediatrics. Diagnosis rests on failure to raise GH above the cut-off after two provocative stimuli, together with low IGF-1 and delayed bone age.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Growth and development: growth hormone deficiency?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.