Thyroid: subacute thyroiditis: 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.

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General Surgery · Thyroid: subacute thyroiditis

Sample item

A woman has fever, a painful tender thyroid after a viral illness, raised ESR and low radioiodine uptake. What is the best treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. NSAIDs with beta blockers, and steroids for severe pain

De Quervain (granulomatous) thyroiditis follows a viral infection and produces transient thyrotoxicosis from release of stored hormone, then hypothyroidism, then recovery. Treatment is supportive. Antithyroid drugs are ineffective because hormone synthesis is not increased.

Option by option

  • A. NSAIDs with beta blockers, and steroids for severe pain (correct)

    Correct. Supportive treatment suffices for this self-limiting condition.

  • B. Total thyroidectomy

    Surgery is not indicated.

  • C. Radioiodine ablation

    Radioiodine does not help and uptake is low.

  • D. Antithyroid drugs for 18 months

    Antithyroid drugs do not help because production is not increased.

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 Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, NSAIDs with beta blockers, and steroids for severe pain. De Quervain (granulomatous) thyroiditis follows a viral infection and produces transient thyrotoxicosis from release of stored hormone, then hypothyroidism, then recovery.

Why is "Total thyroidectomy" not the answer?

Surgery is not indicated.

Why is "Radioiodine ablation" not the answer?

Radioiodine does not help and uptake is low.

Why is "Antithyroid drugs for 18 months" not the answer?

Antithyroid drugs do not help because production is not increased.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid: subacute thyroiditis in General Surgery. Treatment is supportive. Antithyroid drugs are ineffective because hormone synthesis is not increased.

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: subacute thyroiditis?

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.