Thyroid and parathyroid: Bethesda reporting: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Thyroid and parathyroid: Bethesda reporting

Sample item

A thyroid nodule fine-needle aspiration is reported as Bethesda category V. What is the approximate risk of malignancy and the usual management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Suspicious for malignancy, with a risk of about 60 to 80 percent, usually lobectomy or thyroidectomy

The Bethesda system has six categories. Category V (suspicious for malignancy) carries roughly 60 to 80 percent risk and is treated surgically, most often by lobectomy. Category VI is malignant, and category II is benign. Category I is non-diagnostic and requires repeat aspiration.

Option by option

  • A. Suspicious for malignancy, with a risk of about 60 to 80 percent, usually lobectomy or thyroidectomy (correct)

    Correct. Category V is suspicious and is operated.

  • B. Non-diagnostic, with repeat in 2 days

    This describes category I.

  • C. Malignant in 100 percent so immediate chemotherapy

    Category VI is malignant, and chemotherapy is not the main therapy.

  • D. Benign, with a risk under 3 percent, so follow-up

    This describes category II.

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.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Suspicious for malignancy, with a risk of about 60 to 80 percent, usually lobectomy or thyroidectomy. The Bethesda system has six categories.

Why is "Non-diagnostic, with repeat in 2 days" not the answer?

This describes category I.

Why is "Malignant in 100 percent so immediate chemotherapy" not the answer?

Category VI is malignant, and chemotherapy is not the main therapy.

Why is "Benign, with a risk under 3 percent, so follow-up" not the answer?

This describes category II.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid and parathyroid: Bethesda reporting in ENT. Category V (suspicious for malignancy) carries roughly 60 to 80 percent risk and is treated surgically, most often by lobectomy. Category VI is malignant, and category II is benign. Category I is non-diagnostic and requires repeat aspiration.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Thyroid and parathyroid: Bethesda reporting?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.