Thyroid: Riedel 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: Riedel thyroiditis

Sample item

A woman has a woody-hard, fixed thyroid with dysphagia and dyspnoea that mimics anaplastic carcinoma. Biopsy shows dense fibrosis without malignant cells. Which diagnosis fits?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Riedel thyroiditis

Riedel thyroiditis is a rare IgG4-related fibrosing disorder, in which fibrosis extends beyond the capsule into neck structures. Surgery is limited to isthmusectomy for relief of compression, while steroids and tamoxifen may help. Biopsy is essential to exclude carcinoma.

Option by option

  • A. Graves disease

    Graves disease is diffusely enlarged and hyperthyroid.

  • B. Papillary carcinoma

    Papillary carcinoma would show malignant cells.

  • C. Riedel thyroiditis (correct)

    Correct. Woody-hard fibrosis with no malignancy defines Riedel thyroiditis.

  • D. De Quervain thyroiditis

    De Quervain thyroiditis is painful and self-limiting.

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.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Riedel thyroiditis. Riedel thyroiditis is a rare IgG4-related fibrosing disorder, in which fibrosis extends beyond the capsule into neck structures.

Why is "Graves disease" not the answer?

Graves disease is diffusely enlarged and hyperthyroid.

Why is "Papillary carcinoma" not the answer?

Papillary carcinoma would show malignant cells.

Why is "De Quervain thyroiditis" not the answer?

De Quervain thyroiditis is painful and self-limiting.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid: Riedel thyroiditis in General Surgery. Surgery is limited to isthmusectomy for relief of compression, while steroids and tamoxifen may help. Biopsy is essential to exclude carcinoma.

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: Riedel 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.