Endocrine surgery: parathyroid: 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 · Endocrine surgery: parathyroid

Sample item

After parathyroid surgery, a patient has perioral tingling, carpopedal spasm, and a prolonged QT interval. What is the most likely metabolic disturbance?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Hypocalcemia

Hypocalcemia can occur after parathyroid or thyroid surgery and causes neuromuscular excitability, paresthesias, tetany, and QT prolongation. Severity and symptoms guide urgent calcium replacement.

Option by option

  • A. Hypermagnesemia

    Hypermagnesemia causes reduced reflexes and weakness rather than tetany.

  • B. Hyperkalemia

    Hyperkalemia more often produces peaked T waves and conduction abnormalities.

  • C. Hypocalcemia (correct)

    Correct. Tingling, tetany, and QT prolongation are classic hypocalcemic features.

  • D. Hypernatremia

    Hypernatremia causes water-deficit symptoms, not carpopedal spasm.

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 C, Hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia can occur after parathyroid or thyroid surgery and causes neuromuscular excitability, paresthesias, tetany, and QT prolongation.

Why is "Hypermagnesemia" not the answer?

Hypermagnesemia causes reduced reflexes and weakness rather than tetany.

Why is "Hyperkalemia" not the answer?

Hyperkalemia more often produces peaked T waves and conduction abnormalities.

Why is "Hypernatremia" not the answer?

Hypernatremia causes water-deficit symptoms, not carpopedal spasm.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrine surgery: parathyroid in General Surgery. Severity and symptoms guide urgent calcium replacement.

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 Endocrine surgery: parathyroid?

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.