Endocrinology: thyroid storm: practice question

A General Medicine 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 Medicine · Endocrinology: thyroid storm

Sample item

A patient with untreated thyrotoxicosis develops fever, agitation, tachyarrhythmia, diarrhea, and heart failure after surgery. What syndrome is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Thyroid storm

Thyroid storm is life-threatening decompensated thyrotoxicosis with hyperthermia, CNS disturbance, cardiovascular instability, and gastrointestinal symptoms. It requires urgent multimodal treatment and management of the trigger.

Option by option

  • A. Adrenal crisis

    Adrenal crisis has hypotension and electrolyte abnormalities in adrenal insufficiency.

  • B. Pheochromocytoma only

    Pheochromocytoma causes episodic catecholamine symptoms but not this thyrotoxic syndrome.

  • C. Thyroid storm (correct)

    Correct. Severe systemic decompensation in thyrotoxicosis is thyroid storm.

  • D. Myxedema coma

    Myxedema coma causes hypothermia, bradycardia, and reduced consciousness.

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 General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Thyroid storm. Thyroid storm is life-threatening decompensated thyrotoxicosis with hyperthermia, CNS disturbance, cardiovascular instability, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Why is "Adrenal crisis" not the answer?

Adrenal crisis has hypotension and electrolyte abnormalities in adrenal insufficiency.

Why is "Pheochromocytoma only" not the answer?

Pheochromocytoma causes episodic catecholamine symptoms but not this thyrotoxic syndrome.

Why is "Myxedema coma" not the answer?

Myxedema coma causes hypothermia, bradycardia, and reduced consciousness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrinology: thyroid storm in General Medicine. It requires urgent multimodal treatment and management of the trigger.

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 Endocrinology: thyroid storm?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.