Question Easy: A 30-year-old woman presents to her GP with fatigue, weight gain, and constipation. A blood test shows an elevated TSH and low free T4. What is the most likely diagnosis? 🚶♀️
A) Graves’ disease
B) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
C) Subacute thyroiditis
D) De Quervain’s thyroiditis
E) Toxic multinodular goitre
Question Medium: A 45-year-old man presents with tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity. Which medication is the first-line treatment for his condition according to NICE guidelines? 🕺
A) Levodopa
B) Amantadine
C) Entacapone
D) Pramipexole
E) Benserazide
Question Hard: A 60-year-old woman with known Cushing’s syndrome presents with sudden onset severe headache, visual impairment, and decreased consciousness. What is the most likely cause of her symptoms? 💡
A) Pituitary apoplexy
B) Cerebral aneurysm
C) Migraine
D) Aortic dissection
E) Temporal arteritis
Explanations & Answers:
Question Easy Answer: B)
Question Easy Explanation: The symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, and constipation, combined with the blood test results of elevated TSH and low free T4, are indicative of primary hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in the UK.
Question Medium Answer: A)
Question Medium Explanation: Levodopa, in combination with a peripheral dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor, is typically the first-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease symptoms such as tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity, as per NICE guidelines.
Question Hard Answer: A)
Question Hard Explanation: Pituitary apoplexy is a medical emergency where bleeding into or impaired blood supply of the pituitary gland occurs, often associated with underlying conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome. The symptoms of severe headache, visual impairment, and decreased consciousness are characteristic of this condition.
Medical fact of the day: The thyroid gland can affect nearly every organ in your body, including the brain, by regulating vital functions. It’s why hypothyroidism can lead to a surprising number of symptoms, from mood changes to decreased memory function. 🧠
Quote of the day: “In the art of healing, the hands may tire but the heart never does. Keep giving your best, for it changes lives one kind act at a time.” ❤️