Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: subacute thyroiditis: practice question

A Radiology 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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Radiology · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: subacute thyroiditis

Sample item

A woman has a painful tender thyroid, fever, raised ESR and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. What would the 24-hour radioiodine uptake show?

AA single focus of increased uptakeBNormal uptakeCDiffusely increased uptakeDMarkedly low uptake

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Markedly low uptake

In subacute thyroiditis, inflamed follicles leak preformed hormone, causing thyrotoxicosis, while TSH suppression and gland damage reduce radioiodine uptake to very low values. In Graves disease uptake is high.

Option by option

A. A single focus of increased uptake
A single focus of increased uptake suggests an autonomous nodule.
B. Normal uptake
Normal uptake does not fit the destructive inflammation and TSH suppression.
C. Diffusely increased uptake
Diffusely increased uptake is typical of Graves disease with new hormone synthesis.
D. Markedly low uptake (correct)
Correct. Hormone leakage with TSH suppression and damaged follicles gives low uptake despite thyrotoxicosis.

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 Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is D, Markedly low uptake. In subacute thyroiditis, inflamed follicles leak preformed hormone, causing thyrotoxicosis, while TSH suppression and gland damage reduce radioiodine uptake to very low values.

Why is "A single focus of increased uptake" not the answer?

A single focus of increased uptake suggests an autonomous nodule.

Why is "Normal uptake" not the answer?

Normal uptake does not fit the destructive inflammation and TSH suppression.

Why is "Diffusely increased uptake" not the answer?

Diffusely increased uptake is typical of Graves disease with new hormone synthesis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: subacute thyroiditis in Radiology. In Graves disease uptake is high.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: subacute thyroiditis?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology 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.