USMLE ENDOCRINE MODULE

Question 1

A 55-year-old woman comes to her primary care physician because of recent weight loss and sweatiness. On physical examination, her thyroid is enlarged, smooth, and nontender. Patellar tendon reflexes are brisk bilaterally. Ocular examination reveals the findings shown. Laboratory testing suggests primary hyperthyroidism.
Which of the following tests will confirm the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms?

Answer 1

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
70%

Fluorescence in situ hybridization
10%

Gel electrophoresis
5%

Polymerase chain reaction
5%

Restriction enzyme analysis
7%

Southern blot

Question 2

A 53-year-old woman comes to the clinic because of several months of fatigue and worsening headaches. She also reports that she has been feeling cold and depressed most of the time. Her temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), pulse is 56/min, respirations are 14/min, and blood pressure is 118/82 mm Hg. An MRI shows a mass in the sella turcica.

A deficiency of which of the following hormones is most likely to account for this patient’s symptoms?

Answer 2

Corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
6%

Gonadotropins
3%

Thyroid-releasing hormone
21%

Thyroid-stimulating hormone
68%

Vasopressin