Endocrinology Questions: Set-1

Question 1
A 31-year-old woman, who has two healthy children, notes that she has had no menstrual
periods for the past 6 months, but she is not pregnant and takes no medications. Within the past
week, she has noted some milk production from her breasts. She has been bothered by
headaches for the past 3 months. After nearly hitting a bus while changing lanes driving her
vehicle, she is concerned with her vision. An optometrist finds her lateral vision to be reduced.
On physical examination she is afebrile and normotensive. Which of the following laboratory test
findings is most likely to be present in this woman?
A

Increased serum cortisol

Lack of growth hormone suppression

Increased serum alkaline phosphatase

Hyperprolactinemia

Hyponatremia

Abnormal glucose tolerance test

Decreased serum TSH

Question 2
A 28-year-old woman has had difficulty concentrating at work for the past month. She is
constantly getting up and walking around to visit co-workers. She complains that the work area is
too hot. She seems nervous and often spills her coffee. She has been eating more but has lost 5
kg in the past 2 months. On physical examination her temperature is 37.5 C, pulse 101/minute,
respiratory rate 22/minute, and blood pressure 145/85 mm Hg. Which of the following laboratory
findings is most likely to be present in this woman?
A

Decreased catecholamines

Decreased iodine uptake

Decreased plasma insulin

Decreased TSH

Increased ACTH

Increased calcitonin

Question 3
A 19-year-old previously healthy woman has had a mild pharyngitis followed by a high fever over
the past 24 hours. When seen in the emergency room, her skin now shows extensive areas of
purpura. Vital signs include temperature 39 C, pulse rate 102/minute, respiratory rate 21/minute,
and blood pressure 80/55 mm Hg. Laboratory studies show a serum sodium of 115 mmol/L,
potassium 5.3 mmol/L, chloride 92 mmol/L, CO2 22 mmol/L, glucose 42 mg/dL, and creatinine
1.1 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
1 | Page

Idiopathic adrenalitis

Disseminated tuberculosis

Reactive systemic amyloidosis

Sheehan syndrome

Meningococcemia

Hemochromatosis

Question 4
A 40-year-old woman has noted enlargement of her anterior neck region over the past 8 months.
On physical examination her vital signs include T 36.8 C, P 64/minute, RR 15/minute, and BP
155/105 mm Hg. There is diffuse, symmetrical thyroid enlargement without tenderness. A chest
radiograph is normal. Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid yields cells consistent with a
neoplasm. Laboratory studies show that she is euthyroid, but her serum ionized calcium is
elevated. She is taken to surgery and frozen sections of several thyroid masses show a
malignant neoplasm composed of polygonal cells in nests. A thyroidectomy is performed.
Immunostaining for calcitonin of the permanent sections is positive, and the neoplasm has an
amyloid stroma with Congo red staining. Which of the following neoplasms is she most likely to
have?
A

Anaplastic carcinoma

Medullary carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Parathyroid carcinoma

Follicular carcinoma

Question 5
A 38-year-old man experiences abdominal pain, nausea, and constipation for the past 3 days.
On physical examination he has no palpable abdominal masses and bowel sounds are present.
His lungs are clear to auscultation. He has a heart rate of 80 with an irregular rhythm. An
electrocardiogram demonstrates a shortened QT(corrected) interval and a prolonged PR
interval. He has a stool positive for occult blood. Upper GI endoscopy reveals multiple 1 cm
diameter shallow ulcerations of the gastric antrum. Which of the following laboratory test findings
is most likely to be present in this man?
A

Thyroid peroxidase antibody of 4 IU/mL

Serum calcium of 12.4 mg/dL

Blood glucose of 225 mg/dL

Total serum thyroxine of 21 ng/mL

Plasma cortisol of 45 microgm/dL at 8 am

Urine normetanephrine of 692 microgm/gm of creatinine

Plasma renin activity (upright) of 6.8 ng/mL/hr

Question 6
A 55-year-old woman has had a 4 kg weight loss over the past 3 months. She exhibits
decreased mentation over the past 10 days. On physical examination she is afebrile and
hypotensive. Bilateral papilledema is noted. A head CT scan shows marked diffuse cerebral
edema with effacement of the lateral ventricles. Laboratory studies show a sodium of 108
mmol/L, potassium 4.0 mmol/L, chloride 83 mmol/L, CO2 14 mmol/L, glucose 82 mg/dL, and
creatinine 0.5 mg/dL. Which of the following is most likely to cause these findings?
A

Small cell lung carcinoma

Blunt head trauma

Hypothalamic glioma

Meningitis

Pituitary macroadenoma

Question 7
A 29-year-old primigravida who received no prenatal care has marked vaginal bleeding after the
onset of labor at 38 weeks gestation. Cesarean section is performed and a lacerated low-lying
placenta is removed. She remains hypotensive for 6 hours and requires transfusion of 12 packed
RBC units. Postpartum, she becomes unable to breast-feed the infant. She does not have a
resumption of normal menstrual cycles. She becomes more sluggish and tired. Laboratory
findings include hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia. Which of the following
pathologic lesions is she most likely to have had following delivery?
A

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage

Pituitary necrosis

Subacute thyroiditis

Metastatic choriocarcinoma

Insulitis

Question 8
A 58-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus has noted the presence of bone pain,
especially of his hands, for the past 6 months. On physical examination there is no swelling or
redness of his hands, no joint deformity, but the range of motion is slightly decreased. Laboratory
studies show sodium 139 mmol/L, potassium 4.0 mmol/L, chloride 98 mmol/L, C02 22 mmol/L,
glucose 153 mg/dL, creatinine 7.8 mg/dL, calcium 7.8 mg/dL, phosphorus 5.7 mg/dL, total
protein 6.2 g/dL, and albumin 4.0 g/dL. Which of the following conditions is this man most likely
to have?
A

Adrenal adenoma

3 | Page

Medullary thyroid carcinoma

Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma

Parathyroid hyperplasia

Pituitary adenoma

Question 9
A 49-year-old woman has had increasing cold intolerance, weight gain of 4 kg, and sluggishness
over the past two years. A physical examination reveals dry, coarse skin and alopecia of the
scalp. Her thyroid is not palpably enlarged. Her serum TSH is 11.7 mU/L with thyroxine of 2.1
micrograms/dL. A year ago, anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal autoantibodies were detected
at high titer. Which of the following thyroid diseases is she most likely to have?
A

DeQuervain disease

Papillary carcinoma

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Nodular goiter

Graves disease

Question 10
A clinical study is performed with subjects who were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, compared
with a control group of subjects who were euthryoid. The pathologic findings in the thyroid glands
of these subjects are analyzed to determine the spectrum of disease processes present. Which
of the following pathologic processes is most likely to be found with equal frequency in both the
study and the control subjects?
A

Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis

Multinodular goiter

Medullary carcinoma

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Follicular adenoma

Question 11
A 48-year-old woman has experienced constant back pain exacerbated by movement over the
past month. She reports increasing weakness over the past 3 months. On physical examination
her blood pressure is 165/110 mm Hg. She is overweight, with a BMI of 28. A radiograph of the
spine reveals a compressed fracture at T10. Laboratory findings include a serum glucose of 155
mg/dL. Which of the following pathologic lesions is most likely to explain her findings?
A

Adrenal cortical carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Empty sella syndrome

Pheochromocytoma

Multinodular goiter

Question 12
A 33-year-old woman has noted a weight gain of 6 kg over the past year. She has normal
menstrual periods. On physical examination her blood pressure is 170/105 mm Hg. A serum
electrolyte panel shows sodium 141 mmol/L, potassium 4.4 mmol/L, chloride 100 mmol/L, CO2
25 mmol/L, glucose 181 mg/dL, and creatinine 1.0 mg/dL. Which of the following radiologic
findings would you most expect to be present in this patient?
A

2 cm right adrenal mass with abdominal CT scan

4 cm mass at aortic bifurcation with MR imaging

Multiple pulmonary nodules on chest radiograph

10 cm cystic right ovarian lesion by abdominal ultrasound

2 cm "hot" thyroid nodule with Tc99 scintigraphic scan

Question 13
An 35-year-old woman has had insomnia for the past 4 months, as well as episodes of diarrhea
with up to 4 loose stools per day. On physical examination, she exhibits bilateral proptosis. Her
outstretched hands have a fine tremor. On palpation of her neck, the thyroid gland does not
appear to be enlarged and no masses are palpable. Laboratory studies show a serum TSH of
8.8 microU/mL in association with a serum free thyroxine of 5.1 ng/dL. Which of the following is
the most likely diagnosis?
A

Graves disease

Pituitary adenoma

Chronic thyroiditis

Prior thyroidectomy

Nodular goiter

Question 14
A 25-year-old woman has had a 10 kg weight loss over the past 6 months without dieting or
trying to lose weight. On physical examination she appears anxious and worried. Her hands are
warm and tremulous. Vital signs show her temperature to be 37.4 C, pulse 105/minute,
respirations 23/minute, and blood pressure 135/75 mm Hg. Serum electrolytes include sodium
141 mmol/L, potassium 4.2 mmol/L, chloride 99 mmol/L, C02 23 mmol/L, glucose 78 mg/dL, and
creatinine 0.8 mg/dL. Which of the following laboratory test findings is most likely to be present in
this woman?
A

Plasma cortisol of 40 microgm/dL at 8 am

Serum antinuclear antibody of 1:256

Urinary free catecholamines of 500 microgm/24 hr

Serum gastrin of 200 pg/mL

Serum total thyroxine of 14 microgm/dL

Question 15
A 50-year-old man has episodic headaches for 3 months. On physical examination his blood
pressure is 185/110 mm Hg, with no other remarkable findings. Laboratory studies show sodium
145 mmol/L, potassium 4.3 mmol/L, chloride 103 mmol/L, C02 26 mmol/L, glucose 91 mg/dL,
and creatinine 1.3 mg/dL. An abdominal CT scan shows a 7 cm left adrenal mass. During
surgery, as the surgeon is removing the left adrenal gland, the anesthesiologist notes a marked
rise in blood pressure. Which of the following laboratory test findings most likely explains his
findings?
A

Decreased serum cortisol

Decreased urinary homovanillic acid

Increased serum ACTH

Increased urinary free catecholamines

Elevated serum ANCA

Question 16
A 47-year-old woman feels a "lump" in her neck that she didn't notice 5 months before. Her
physician palpates a firm nodule about 2 cm in size to the left of midline in the region of the
thyroid gland. By scintigraphic scanning this nodule appears "cold" with normal activity in the
surrounding normally sized thyroid gland. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Papillary carcinoma

Follicular adenoma

Thyroglossal duct cyst

Toxic nodular goiter

Granulomatous thyroiditis

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Top of Form
Question 17
A 55-year-old woman has had diffuse, dull, constant abdominal pain for the past 2 months. On
physical examination no abnormal findings are noted. An abdominal CT scan shows a 3 cm right
adrenal mass. The right adrenal is excised and on microscopic examination the mass is
composed of cells resembling adrenal cortex. Which of the following features is the most reliable
indicator that this mass is malignant?
A

Cellular atypia
6 | Page

Presence of mitoses

Invasion

Size of the mass

Cellular necrosis

Question 18
A 49-year-old woman has had multiple episodes of lower abdominal pain for the past year. On 3
occasions she passed a urinary tract stone during or following an episode of pain. During the
past month she has had pain in her right middle finger. On physical examination there is pain on
palpation of her right 3rd proximal phalanx. Laboratory studies show a serum calcium of 13.7
mg/dL, phosphorus of 1.9 mg/dL, creatinine 1.1 mg/dL, and albumin 4.8 g/dL. Which of the
following bone lesions is she most likely to have?
A

Osteitis fibrosa cystica

Osteoid osteoma

Osteochondroma

Osteomyelitis

Osteoporosis

Osteosarcoma

Question 19
A 40-year-old woman notes increasing enlargement and discomfort in her neck over the past
week. The nurse practitioner palpates diffuse, symmetrical enlargement with tenderness in the
region of the thyroid gland. Thyroid function tests show serum TSH of 0.8 mU/L and thyroxine of
11.9 micrograms/dL. She is referred to an endocrinologist, but the next available appointment is
in 8 weeks. When the endocrinologist examines the patient, the thyroid is no longer palpable and
there is no pain. Repeat thyroid function tests reveal a serum TSH of 3.8 mU/L and thyroxine of
5.7 micrograms/dL. Which of the following thyroid diseases is most likely to produce these
findings?
A

Nodular goiter

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

DeQuervain disease

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Graves disease

Riedel thyroiditis

Iodine deficiency

Question 20
7 | Page

A 40-year-old truck driver has had difficulty using his side mirrors for traffic behind him. He has
never had any major medical problems in the past. He visits an optometrist, who determines that
he has bilateral homonymous hemianopsia, but his residual vision is 20/20. A head CT scan
reveals slight enlargement of the sella turcica. Which of the following hormones is most likely
being secreted in excessive amounts in this man?
A

Antidiuretic hormone

Prolactin

ACTH

Growth hormone

Luteinizing hormone

Question 21
A 47-year-old woman has felt a "lump" in her neck for the past 2 months. On physical
examination there is a firm nodule in the right lobe of her thyroid. Following fine needle aspiration
and cytologic diagnosis of a neoplasm, a thyroidectomy is performed. Grossly, there is a 3 cm
mass in the right lower pole that on sectioning is cystic and has papillary excrescences. Which of
the following sets of microscopic pathologic findings is most typical for this lesion?
A

Giant cells

Amyloid stroma

Small thyroid follicles

Clear nuclei

Pleomorphic spindle cells

Question 22
The mother of an 11-month-old infant had noted enlargement of the baby's abdomen within the
past month. This is confirmed by the osteopathic physician, who notes that the baby is otherwise
normally developed. An abdominal CT scan reveals a 6 cm mass, with some scattered
calcifications, above the kidney on the right. Laboratory studies show a greatly elevated urinary
vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), while the urinary homovanillic acid (HVA) is only slightly increased.
The mass is removed and microscopically is composed of sheets of small blue cells. Which of
the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Adrenal cortical carcinoma

Neuroblastoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Pheochromocytoma

Aldosteronoma

8 | Page

Question 23
A 53-year-old woman has pain in her neck for the past month. On physical examination her vital
signs include T 37 C, P 77/minute, RR 16/minute, and BP 130/80 mm Hg. There is an irregular
firm mass palpable in her left neck. A CT scan shows an infiltrative mass involving the left lobe of
the thyroid and extending into adjacent soft tissues. Laboratory studies show TSH 2.9 mU/L,
total serum thyroxine 8.6 microgm/dL, calcium 8.7 mg/dL, and phosphorus 2.8 mg/dL. A fine
needle aspiration biopsy of the mass shows malignant spindle-shaped cells present that
demonstrate a p53 mutation immunohistochemically. She dies within a year with metastatic
lesions. Which of the following neoplasms is this woman most likely to have?
A

Anaplastic carcinoma

Follicular carcinoma

Medullary carcinoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Papillary carcinoma

Parathyroid carcinoma

Question 24
A 45-year-old man has a 4 month history of nonfocal, generalized headaches. On physical
examination he is found to have a blood pressure of 170/110 mm Hg. Laboratory studies show a
serum sodium of 146 mmol/L, potassium 2.3 mmol/L, chloride 103 mmol/L, CO2 27 mmol/L,
glucose 82 mg/dL, and creatinine 1.2 mg/dL. His plasma renin activity is 0.1 ng/mL/hr and his
serum aldosterone 65 ng/mL. Which of the following is the most likely cause for his findings?
A

21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency

Adrenal cortical adenoma

Pituitary adenoma

Exogenous corticosteroid administration

Renal cell carcinoma

Question 25
A 40-year-old woman has noted painless swelling of her neck for the past 3 weeks. On physical
examination there is diffuse enlargement of her thyroid. Laboratory studies show an increased
titer of anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Within a month, the swelling has
diminished. Which of the following complications is she most likely to develop?
A

Amyloidosis

Hypothyroidism

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Papillary carcinoma

9 | Page

Riedel thyroiditis

Question 26
A 45-year-old woman with severe rheumatoid arthritis has been on chronic corticosteroid therapy
for the past 15 years. She is admitted for an orthopedic procedure to correct joint deformity from
her disease. She continues to receive her regular dosage of 5 mg of prednisone per day. Three
days postoperatively, she develops an aspiration pneumonia with Klebsiella pneumoniae
cultured from sputum. Five days following the surgery, she becomes obtunded. Laboratory
findings at that time include: sodium 105 mmol/L, potassium 5.4 mmol/L, chloride 87 mmol/L,
CO2 16 mmol/L, glucose 40 mg/dL, and creatinine 1.1 mg/dL. Which of the following
complications is most likely to have occurred in this patient?
A

Anterior pituitary necrosis

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

Acute Addisonian crisis

Conn syndrome

21-hydroxylase deficiency

Question 27
A 38-year-old woman has had a feeling of fullness in her neck for the past year. She is otherwise
asymptomatic. Her physician's assistant palpates a symmetrically enlarged but nontender
thyroid gland. She has no difficulty swallowing. There is no palpable lymphadenopathy. She is
afebrile. Her serum TSH is 3.5 mU/L with total thyroxine of 8.2 micrograms/dL. Thyroid
peroxidase antibody is not detected. Two years later, her thyroid has not appreciably changed in
size. Which of the following conditions is she most likely to have?
A

Graves disease

Nodular goiter

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Anaplastic carcinoma

Follicular adenoma

Papillary carcinoma

Question 28
A 15-year-old boy has had worsening headaches for 2 months. On examination he has
diminished peripheral vision, but no loss of visual acuity. A head CT scan reveals a 4 cm mass
expanding the sella turcica and eroding the sphenoid bone. The mass is cystic with scattered
calcifications. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Prolactinoma

Metastatic seminoma
10 | P a g e

Empty sella syndrome

Glioblastoma multiforme

Craniopharyngioma

Osteosarcoma

Question 29
A 52-year-old man has weight of 4 kg over the past 6 months, along with bruises on his skin with
even minor trauma and back pain. He has smoked 2 packs a cigarettes per day for 35 years. On
physical examination he has obesity in a truncal distribution, plethora, and a blood pressure of
160/110 mm Hg. A radiograph of the spine reveals a compressed fracture of T11. Which of the
following neoplasms is he most likely to have?
A

Pheochromocytoma of bladder

Follicular carcinoma of thyroid

Osteosarcoma of femur

Small cell anaplastic carcinoma of lung

Islet cell carcinoma of pancreas

Question 30
A 41-year-old man has been drinking large quantities of water--up to 20 liters per day--for the
past week. On physical examination he has diminished skin turgor and dry mucous membranes.
Laboratory studies show sodium 162 mmol/L, potassium 4.1 mmol/L, chloride 121 mmol/L, and
bicarbonate 27 mmol/L. His serum glucose is 75 mg/dL and creatinine 1.0 mg/dL. His serum
osmolality is 343 mOsm/kg. A deficiency of which of the following hormones is most likely
present in this man?
A

Antidiuretic hormone

Oxytocin

Insulin

Growth hormone

Prolactin

Question 31
A 50-year-old man has been diagnosed with a follicular neoplasm of the thyroid. He undergoes a
total thyroidectomy. Within a day following surgery, he is noted to have tingling sensations and
neuromuscular irritability. Which of the following serum laboratory tests should be ordered
immediately to determine further therapy for this man?
A

TSH

Parathormone
11 | P a g e

Total thyroxine

Ionized calcium

Calcitonin

Iodine

Question 32
A 30-year-old woman from Barcelona has noted enlargement of her neck over the past 4
months. On physical examination, she has a diffusely enlarged thyroid that is not painful to
palpation. Her TSH level is 0.2 mU/L. A subtotal thyroidectomy is performed and histologically
the tissue shows follicles with papillary infoldings lined by tall columnar cells. Which of the
following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis

Papillary carcinoma

Multinodular goiter

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Graves disease

Question 33
A 57-year-old man is found comatose. On physical examination he has decreased skin turgor.
Laboratory studies show a blood glucose of 780 mg/dl. Urinalysis reveals no ketosis or
proteinuria, though there is 4+ glucosuria. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Islet cell tumor secreting glucagon

Type I diabetes mellitus

Cushing syndrome

Ingestion of a large quantity of sugar

Type II diabetes mellitus

Question 34
A 23-year-old man wants to increase his muscle mass for playing physical contact sports. He
attempts to accomplish this by injections of a substance obtained from a 'friend'. Over the next
year he develops acne, icterus, and increased fatigue. An infertility workup reveals hypospermia.
Laboratory studies show Hgb 19.2 g/dL, Hct 58.1.4%, platelet count 330,300/microliter, and
WBC count 7410/microliter. Which of the following neoplasms is he at greatest risk for
developing in the future?
A

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Papillary carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Seminoma

Question 35
A 33-year old woman has had increased anxiety with headaches and diaphoresis over the past 2
months. On physical examination she is afebrile, with a heart rate of 90/minute and blood
pressure 150/90 mm Hg. Laboratory studies show elevated urinary catecholamines, elevated
plasma renin activity, and normal TSH. Her plasma cortisol level is normal. An abdominal CT
scan is performed. At which of the following locations is a mass lesion most likely to be found?
A

Aortic bifurcation

Hepatic capsule

Pancreatic tail

Mediastinum

Splenic hilum

Question 36
A 2-year-old child living in Stockholm is small for its age and exhibits profound mental
retardation. On physical examination he has dry, coarse skin. Which of the following pathologic
features involving the thyroid gland is this child most likely to have?
A

Papillary adenoma

Diffuse hyperplasia

Granulomatous inflammation

Metastatic carcinoma

Marked atrophy

Question 37
A 40-year-old woman has noted increasing fullness to her neck for the past 2 weeks. On
physical examination she has diffuse enlargement of her thyroid gland without tenderness on
palpation. Laboratory studies show an anti-thyroglobulin titer of 1:256 and an anti-thyroid
peroxidase titer of 1:512. She has an HLA DR5 marker. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A

Riedel struma

Adenovirus infection

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Graves disease

Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis

Nodular goiter

Question 38
A clinical study is performed involving subjects who developed Addision disease. They were
recorded to have laboratory studies with hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, and
decreased plasma cortisol. They became hypotensive. In some subjects, this disease had an
acute onset over less than 2 days' time. Which of the following diseases is most likely to produce
this acute course?
A

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

Metastatic small cell anaplastic carcinoma

Disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Reactive systemic amyloidosis

Blunt force abdominal trauma

Question 39
A 39-year-old woman has noted discomfort with fullness to her neck over the past year. On
physical examination she is afebrile and normotensive. There is irregular enlargement of her
thyroid gland, but no tenderness on palpation. A scintigraphic scan shows normal uptake except
for increased uptake in a 1 cm area in the left lower lobe. Her anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody is
negative. Which of the following complications is she most likely to develop?
A

Thyrotoxicosis

Papillary carcinoma

Graves disease

Subacute thyroiditis

Hypothyroidism

Question 40
A 42-year-old man has enlargement of his neck for the past 7 months. He is concerned, because
a sister and maternal aunt had thyroid cancer. On physical examination, his thyroid is palpably
nodular but nontender. A fine needle aspiration biopsy is performed and cytologic examination
shows cells present consistent with a neoplasm. He undergoes total thyroidectomy. Sectioning
the resected thyroid reveals four distinct tumor masses from 0.5 to 3 cm in size. These masses
are solid and firm, with a tan cut surface. On microscopic examination an immunostain for
calcitonin is positive in the nests of dark blue cells of these masses. He is at greatest risk for
developing which of the following neoplasms in the future?
A

Astrocytoma

Pheochromocytoma

Angiosarcoma
14 | P a g e

Gastrinoma

Renal cell carcinoma

Question 41
A 17-year-old girl with Goodpasture syndrome progressed to chronic renal failure and was
placed on chronic hemodialysis. She developed severe hypertension. However, she had
difficulty accepting the reality of her disease, and she missed dialysis appointments and did not
take her antihypertensive medication regularly. Laboratory studies now show her serum ionized
calcium is 5.9 mg/dl with phosphorus 6.2 mg/dl and albumin 3.6 g/dl. Which of the following bone
lesions is she most likely to have?
A

Osteitis fibrosa cystica

Fibrous dysplasia

Osteosarcoma

Giant cell tumor

Osteopetrosis

Question 42
A 1-year-old male child has been irritable for the past day. On physical examination he has a
right inguinal hernia with incarceration of a loop of small intestine. A laparotomy is performed and
the defect is closed. The tissue from the hernia sac is excised. The surgical pathology report
indicates the presence of a focus of adrenal cortex in the excised hernia sac. Which of the
following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Adrenal cortical carcinoma metastasis

Incidental ectopia

Risk for subsequent adrenocortical insufficiency

Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome

Question 43
A 14-year-old boy has felt a "bump" in his neck for the past year. On physical examination just
anterior to the trachea in the midline is a palpable non-tender 2 cm mass. A fine needle aspirate
of the mass yields only clear, mucoid fluid. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A

Thyroglossal duct cyst

Lymph node metastasis of follicular carcinoma

Follicular adenoma

Nodule of a multinodular goiter

Parathyroid cyst
15 | P a g e

Question 44
A clinical study is performed of subjects from birth to age 80 years who were documented by
laboratory testing to have hypocalcemia. The medical records of these subjects are analyzed
and the disease conditions documented in these subjects recorded. A subset of these patients
had hypocalcemia documented in infancy. Which of the following conditions is most likely to
have been present in this subset of patients?
A

Parathyroid carcinoma

Vitamin D deficiency

Chronic renal failure

DiGeorge syndrome

Parathyroid adenoma

Question 45
A 5-month-old female infant was the product of an uncomplicated pregnancy and was born at
term. However, the baby has failure to thrive. On physical examination there is clitoral
hypertrophy and poor skin turgor. The baby appears neurologically normal. Laboratory studies
show serum sodium 116 mmol/L, potassium 3.2 mmol/L, chloride 83 mmol/L, and CO2 22
mmol/L. There is no history of diarrhea or vomiting. Which of the following inborn errors of
metabolism is this infant most likely to have?
A

21-hydroxylase deficiency

Phenylalanine transferase deficiency

Galactose-1-uridyl transferase deficiency

Glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency

Iodine peroxidase deficiency

16 | P a g e