Thyroid: Graves disease preparation: 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.

Try it

General Surgery · Thyroid: Graves disease preparation

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman with Graves disease is rendered euthyroid with carbimazole and is scheduled for total thyroidectomy. Why is Lugol's iodine given for 10 days before surgery?

AIt prevents damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerveBIt destroys thyroid tissue by radiationCIt increases thyroid hormone synthesisDIt reduces the vascularity and friability of the gland

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. It reduces the vascularity and friability of the gland

Large doses of iodine inhibit hormone release and synthesis (the Wolff-Chaikoff effect) and reduce blood flow to the gland, making it firmer and less vascular, which reduces blood loss. Carbimazole is continued in the preparation. Radioiodine is a separate treatment altogether.

Option by option

A. It prevents damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Iodine has no effect on nerve safety, which depends on dissection technique.
B. It destroys thyroid tissue by radiation
Destruction by radiation is the action of radioiodine-131, not stable Lugol's iodine.
C. It increases thyroid hormone synthesis
High-dose iodine inhibits, rather than increases, hormone synthesis.
D. It reduces the vascularity and friability of the gland (correct)
Correct. Iodine reduces vascularity and bleeding at surgery.

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.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, It reduces the vascularity and friability of the gland. Large doses of iodine inhibit hormone release and synthesis (the Wolff-Chaikoff effect) and reduce blood flow to the gland, making it firmer and less vascular, which reduces blood loss.

Why is "It prevents damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve" not the answer?

Iodine has no effect on nerve safety, which depends on dissection technique.

Why is "It destroys thyroid tissue by radiation" not the answer?

Destruction by radiation is the action of radioiodine-131, not stable Lugol's iodine.

Why is "It increases thyroid hormone synthesis" not the answer?

High-dose iodine inhibits, rather than increases, hormone synthesis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid: Graves disease preparation in General Surgery. Carbimazole is continued in the preparation. Radioiodine is a separate treatment altogether.

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: Graves disease preparation?

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.