Question:

Prophylactic thyroidectomy is indicated in

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Which RET-linked syndrome makes medullary thyroid cancer nearly inevitable?
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Hashimoto thyroiditis
  • MEN type 2
  • Riedel thyroiditis
  • De-Quervain's thyroiditis
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Prophylactic thyroidectomy means removing a clinically normal thyroid to pre-empt an almost certain future cancer.

Step 2: MEN type 2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A and 2B) is driven by a germline RET proto-oncogene mutation and carries a near-inevitable risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma at a young age.

Step 3: Because the cancer risk is so high, once the RET mutation is confirmed, prophylactic total thyroidectomy is advised early in childhood (by about age 5 in MEN 2A, and even earlier in the more aggressive MEN 2B).

Step 4: Hashimoto, Riedel and De Quervain thyroiditis are inflammatory conditions managed medically and do not justify prophylactic gland removal. Hence the answer is MEN type 2.
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