Thyroid surgery: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Thyroid surgery

Sample item

Which postoperative symptom after thyroidectomy may indicate hypocalcaemia?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Perioral tingling and muscle cramps

Hypocalcaemia can occur after thyroid surgery if parathyroid function is impaired and may cause tingling, cramps, tetany, or arrhythmia.

Option by option

  • A. Transient sunburn

    Sunburn does not indicate postoperative hypocalcaemia.

  • B. Perioral tingling and muscle cramps (correct)

    Correct: neuromuscular irritability is typical of low calcium.

  • C. Improved appetite only

    Appetite change alone is nonspecific.

  • D. A painless toe callus

    A toe callus is unrelated to calcium balance.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Perioral tingling and muscle cramps. Hypocalcaemia can occur after thyroid surgery if parathyroid function is impaired and may cause tingling, cramps, tetany, or arrhythmia.

Why is "Transient sunburn" not the answer?

Sunburn does not indicate postoperative hypocalcaemia.

Why is "Improved appetite only" not the answer?

Appetite change alone is nonspecific.

Why is "A painless toe callus" not the answer?

A toe callus is unrelated to calcium balance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid surgery in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: neuromuscular irritability is typical of low calcium.

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 surgery?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.