Download PANCE ENDOCRINOLOGY EXAMINATION SET 2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS GRADED A+ and more Exams Biology in PDF only on Docsity!
PANCE ENDOCRINOLOGY EXAMINATION
SET 2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS GRADED A+
โ A 26-year-old obese female complains of a 3-4 month history of discrete erythematous plaques on the pretibial areas of her legs. The lesions have increased in size, become darker, and are painful. She is concerned because the centers of the lesions have become ulcerated. This patient should be screened for which endocrine disease? Answer: DM โ A 40 year-old male presents to your clinic complaining of nontender, yellow patches on both eyelids. He states his brother and uncle have similar growths. He denies any visual changes or other complaints. Your primary suspicion is what? Answer: hyperlipidemia Xanthelasmas, along with xanthomas, are common findings in familial hypercholesterolemia. โ A patient complains of fatigue, tremors, palpitations, and heat intolerance. The thyroid is diffusely enlarged and firm on palpation. What would you expect TSH levels to be? Answer: LOW TSH. The presentation is consistent with hyperthyroidism. Laboratory findings include low TSH, elevated free and total thyroid hormone levels, and an
increased uptake on radionuclide scan. There may also be elevated bilirubin, liver thrombocytopenia. โ A solitary thyroid nodule is noted on physical examination. The TSH level is normal. The next step in the evaluation is ______________. Answer: Fine needle bx. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the first step in the evaluation of a solitary nodule with a normal TSH level. FNA has a high level of accuracy in diagnosing benign versus malignant nodules in this setting. โ 30 year-old female complains of fatigue, weakness, diminished appetite, weight loss, and syncope. She denies fever, chest or abdominal pain, palpitations, changes in bowel patterns or sleep patterns. Physical examination reveals a thin female, BP 90/65 mmHg, and pulse 80 beats per minute. Pulmonary, cardiovascular, abdominal, and neurologic exam are without abnormalities. Areas of brown and bronze hyperpigmentation are noted 39 on her elbows and the creases of her hands. What is the dx? Answer: Addison's disease Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency) would account for all her symptoms, the hypotension, and the hyperpigmentation of the skin. โ A 72 year-old female is being evaluated for recurrent kidney stones. Physical examination reveals no abnormal findings. Laboratory findings
the following is the appropriate next step? Answer: Obtain a fasting HDL and LDL lipid measurement. โ Radioactive iodine is most successful in treating hyperthyroidism that results from _____________________. Answer: Grave's disease โ can you tx papillary thyroid carcinoma with radioactive iodine? Answer: NO must tx with thyroidectomy. โ A newborn infant exhibits prolonged jaundice, feeding problems, hypotonia, and an enlarged tongue. Proper treatment in this infant would consist of __________________. Answer: Thyroid hormone replacement This scenario is consistent with congenital hypothyroidism. Measurement of TSH or T4 would confirm this and T4 should be given. โ ______________ can result in hypokalemia. Answer: adrenal adenoma. Excessive secretion of aldosterone from an adrenal adenoma will lead to sodium retention and the secretion of potassium in the distal tubule of the kidney, eventually leading to hypokalemia.
โ A 43 year-old asymptomatic diabetic female is found to have an elevated total calcium level of 12.4 mg/dL. Which test do you need to order next? Answer: Serum albumin Since approximately 50% of calcium is protein bound, total calcium levels should be interpreted relative to albumin levels. โ A 64 year-old male presents complaining of new onset of fatigue, weight gain, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and loss of body hair. Laboratory investigation demonstrates: TSH less than 0.5 microunits/mL (normal range 0.5-5.0 microU/mL); Thyroxine (T4) 2 mcg/dL (normal range 5-12 mcg/dL); Prolactin 10 nanograms/ml (normal). What is the dx? Answer: Hypopituitarism The low trophic and target hormone levels combined with symptoms of hypogonadism indicate this patient has hypopituitarism. โ A known alcoholic presents to the emergency department with altered level of consciousness and a blood glucose level of 35 mg/dL. What would explain this glucose result? Answer: Hepatic glycogen depletion and impaired gluconeogenesis Alcohol-related hypoglycemia results from hepatic glycogen depletion and impaired gluconeogenesis and not due to antibody formation, excessive insulin release from the pancreas, or rapid release of carbohydrate into the small bowel
Alpha-adrenergic blockers are used preoperatively to control hypertension in a patient with pheochromocytoma that occurs from unopposed alpha stimulation when the tumor is manipulated โ central obesity, glucose intolerance, and easy bruising. Dx is _________________. Answer: Cushing's syndrome โ hyponatremia WITH hyperkalemia signifies _______________. Answer: acute adrenal insufficiency โ As part of the long-term management of a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus, the glycosylated hemoglobin (HgbA1C) level should be ideally maintained at Answer: 6 to 7% The HgbA1C in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus should be maintained between 6 and 7%. Lower levels lead to an increased number of episodes of hypoglycemia, and higher levels lead to an increased risk of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. โ A 72 year-old female is being evaluated for recurrent kidney stones. Physical examination reveals no abnormal findings. Laboratory findings show elevated calcium and decreased phosphate levels.hyperparathyroidism Answer: hyperparathyroidism
The majority of patients with hyperparathyroidism are asymptomatic. Recurrent nephrolithiasis may be one of the presentations of primary hyperparathyroidism. Measurement of parathyroid levels would be the initial laboratory test for the evaluation of hypercalcemia. โ which imaging modality provides the best visualization of pituitary tumors? Answer: brain MRI โ what is a common sign/symptom s/p iatrogenic injury during subtotal thyroidectomy? Answer: Hoarseness The recurrent laryngeal nerve is most commonly injured during subtotal thyroidectomy. If injured, hoarseness is the most common presentation for this nerve impairment. โ A patient presents to the office with worsening fatigue, weight loss, and weakness. She notes that she is having recurrent bouts of abdominal pain and has been losing her pubic hair. Patient is found to have orthostatic hypotension. Dx is ___________________. Answer: Addison's disease Patients with Addison's disease have primary adrenal failure from an autoimmune problem in the adrenal gland or due to hemorrhage into the adrenal gland. These patients are not able to make glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, or sex hormones which result in hypotension,
Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are most commonly found to have this disease by an incidental finding of hypercalcemia on routine laboratory testing as a result of screening. Up to 0.1% of the adult population has this condition which is most commonly seen in females over age 50. โ What is a known complication to prescribing excessive doses of levothyroxine (Synthroid) for patients with hypothyroidism? Answer: Osteoporosis Osteoporosis may result from overaggressive therapy with levothyroxine (Synthroid) because of the increased bone turnover that results from increased basal metabolic rate. โ Which hormone primarily inhibits growth hormone secretion from the pituitary gland? Answer: Somatostatin Somatostatin inhibits the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland as well as hyperglycemic states. It is therefore useful in the treatment of excessive growth hormone release that occurs with gigantism and acromegaly. โ An adult presents with a three month history of progressive severe muscle cramps, extremity paresthesias and lethargy which began shortly after a thyroidectomy for a malignant thyroid lesion. What is the most likely diagnosis? Answer: Hypoparathyroidism
Hypocalcemia secondary to hypoparathyroidism is commonly seen as a complication of thyroidectomy. โ A 58 year-old female presents with acute onset of 105 degrees F fever, chills, delirium and tachycardia. Laboratory analysis reveals a TSH of 0.08 mcU/L (0.4-6.0 mcU/L), total T3 of 400 ng/dL (95-190 ng/dL)and a total T4 of 180 mcg/dL (5-11 mcg/dL). What is the initial treatment of choice to normalize this condition? Answer: Propylthiouracil Propylthiouracil is the preferred initial drug in patients with thyroid storm. โ A patient with adrenal insufficiency is taking hydrocortisone 25 mg daily. What should the patient do with the hydrocortisone dose when they develop a minor illness such as a cold? Answer: Increase the dose to 50 mg daily until the illness resolves. To better mimic the normal physiologic response the baseline dose should be doubled for the duration of the illness. Doses should be increased 5-10 fold with major events such as surgery. โ A 34 year-old female status-post trans-sphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma presents with worsening polydipsia of 10-12 liters daily and polyuria within four days of discharge. A urinalysis reveals a specific gravity of 1.004 (1.001- 1.035) and shows decreased urine osmolality
Phenoxybenzamine is an alpha-blocker utilized to control hypertension in patient with a pheochromocytoma. โ A patient with Type 2 diabetes uses a mixture of NPH and regular insulin twice daily. She consistently has mid- afternoon bouts of hypoglycemia, despite eating her meals as scheduled. How would you modify her insulin dosing to reduce her mid-afternoon hypoglycemic events? Answer: Reduce morning dose of NPH insulin Reducing the morning dose of NPH insulin would be most appropriate as it exerts its greatest effect on the noontime meal. โ Hypoglycemia in an elderly patient with diabetes is most likely to manifest as _______________? Answer: mental confusion Manifestations of hypoglycemia in the elderly are mainly from impaired central nervous system function. Manifestations include mental confusion, bizarre behavior, and ultimately coma. โ A 55 year-old female presents to the clinic with lethargy, fatigue, constipation, and menorrhagia. Physical examination reveals an enlarged thyroid, dry skin, and a heart rate of 50 bpm. Laboratory results show a decrease in free T4, and an elevation in TSH. What is the most likely diagnosis? Answer: Primary hypothyroidism
This is a classic presentation of symptoms of primary hypothyroidism. Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, lethargy, depression, weakness, constipation, menorrhagia; and patients often present with a palpable, enlarged thyroid. โ An 18 year-old female with diabetes presents to the emergency department with altered level of consciousness, deep breathing and fruity odor to her breath. Which of the following medications is indicated for this patient? Answer: Regular insulin Regular insulin has a rapid onset of action when given intravenously and is the initial choice in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Following the initial dose, a continuous infusion often promotes a steady, slow fall of glucose levels to normal, which can then be stabilized by decreasing the insulin. โ A 32 year-old male presents with a one-month history of weakness, anorexia, and weight loss. On physical examination, he is hypotensive and his skin has diffuse hyperpigmentation. Plasma cortisol levels drawn at 8 am are low. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? Answer: Addison disease (chronic adrenocortical insufficiency) โ Screening for hypothyroidism is always indicated in which age group? Answer: newborns
