Nuclear medicine: thyroid scintigraphy: 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 · Nuclear medicine: thyroid scintigraphy

Sample item

A patient with thyrotoxicosis has a thyroid scan showing diffusely increased uptake of the tracer throughout both lobes. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Graves disease

Graves disease shows diffusely increased homogeneous uptake. Subacute thyroiditis and factitious thyrotoxicosis show low or absent uptake despite biochemical hyperthyroidism. A toxic adenoma shows a hot nodule with suppression of the remaining gland.

Option by option

  • A. Graves disease (correct)

    Correct. Diffuse increased uptake indicates Graves disease.

  • B. Factitious thyrotoxicosis

    Exogenous thyroid hormone suppresses uptake.

  • C. Subacute thyroiditis

    Thyroiditis shows low uptake as the gland is damaged.

  • D. Toxic adenoma

    A toxic adenoma shows a focal hot nodule.

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 Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Graves disease. Graves disease shows diffusely increased homogeneous uptake.

Why is "Factitious thyrotoxicosis" not the answer?

Exogenous thyroid hormone suppresses uptake.

Why is "Subacute thyroiditis" not the answer?

Thyroiditis shows low uptake as the gland is damaged.

Why is "Toxic adenoma" not the answer?

A toxic adenoma shows a focal hot nodule.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: thyroid scintigraphy in Radiology. Subacute thyroiditis and factitious thyrotoxicosis show low or absent uptake despite biochemical hyperthyroidism. A toxic adenoma shows a hot nodule with suppression of the remaining gland.

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 Nuclear medicine: thyroid scintigraphy?

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.