Pigmentary disorders: vitiligo and thyroid disease: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Pigmentary disorders: vitiligo and thyroid disease

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman with generalized vitiligo reports fatigue, cold intolerance and weight gain. Which associated disorder should be looked for first?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Autoimmune thyroid disease

Generalized vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune disease, most often Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves disease. Thyroid function tests and antithyroid peroxidase antibody are reasonable in a symptomatic patient. Other associations include type 1 diabetes, pernicious anaemia and Addison disease.

Option by option

  • A. Cushing syndrome

    Cushing syndrome gives central obesity and striae and is not an autoimmune association of vitiligo.

  • B. Autoimmune thyroid disease (correct)

    Correct. Autoimmune thyroiditis is the commonest autoimmune association and fits her hypothyroid symptoms.

  • C. Hyperprolactinaemia

    Hyperprolactinaemia is not an autoimmune association of vitiligo and would not explain cold intolerance.

  • D. Acromegaly

    Acromegaly is a growth hormone excess disorder and is not linked with vitiligo.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Autoimmune thyroid disease. Generalized vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune disease, most often Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves disease.

Why is "Cushing syndrome" not the answer?

Cushing syndrome gives central obesity and striae and is not an autoimmune association of vitiligo.

Why is "Hyperprolactinaemia" not the answer?

Hyperprolactinaemia is not an autoimmune association of vitiligo and would not explain cold intolerance.

Why is "Acromegaly" not the answer?

Acromegaly is a growth hormone excess disorder and is not linked with vitiligo.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pigmentary disorders: vitiligo and thyroid disease in Dermatology. Thyroid function tests and antithyroid peroxidase antibody are reasonable in a symptomatic patient. Other associations include type 1 diabetes, pernicious anaemia and Addison disease.

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 Pigmentary disorders: vitiligo and thyroid disease?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.