DHA Exam Endocrinology MCQs: Practice Questions With Answers

Sample DHA licensing exam MCQs from Endocrinology — one of the largest subject pools in HighYield's DHA bank without a dedicated practice post yet — covering diabetes, thyroid, pituitary and adrenal disorders.

Endocrinology is a 152-question subject in HighYield's DHA question bank — one of the largest subject pools in the bank — that doesn't yet have a dedicated practice post. Below is a sample set of Endocrinology MCQs in the clinical-vignette style tested on the DHA licensing exam.

Diabetes Mellitus

1. Which of the following meets the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus?

A) Fasting plasma glucose of 110 mg/dL
B) HbA1c of 6.5% or higher ✅
C) Random glucose of 150 mg/dL without symptoms
D) 2-hour OGTT value of 150 mg/dL

2. Type 1 diabetes mellitus results primarily from:

A) Peripheral insulin resistance
B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells ✅
C) Excess glucagon secretion
D) Impaired incretin response

3. The most common acute, life-threatening complication of untreated Type 1 diabetes is:

A) Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
B) Diabetic ketoacidosis ✅
C) Lactic acidosis
D) Hypoglycemic coma

Thyroid Disorders

4. A patient with a high TSH and a low free T4 most likely has:

A) Primary hyperthyroidism
B) Primary hypothyroidism ✅
C) Secondary hypothyroidism
D) Subclinical hyperthyroidism

5. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism worldwide is:

A) Toxic multinodular goitre
B) Graves' disease ✅
C) Thyroiditis
D) Toxic adenoma

6. Exophthalmos (proptosis) is a distinguishing clinical feature of:

A) Hashimoto's thyroiditis
B) Graves' disease ✅
C) Subacute thyroiditis
D) Iodine deficiency goitre

7. The most common cause of hypothyroidism in iodine-sufficient regions, marked by elevated anti-TPO antibodies, is:

A) Graves' disease
B) Hashimoto's thyroiditis ✅
C) De Quervain's thyroiditis
D) Riedel's thyroiditis

Pituitary & Adrenal Disorders

8. The most common type of functioning pituitary adenoma is:

A) Growth hormone-secreting adenoma
B) Prolactinoma ✅
C) ACTH-secreting adenoma
D) TSH-secreting adenoma

9. Cushing's disease specifically refers to excess cortisol caused by:

A) An adrenal adenoma
B) An ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma ✅
C) Exogenous corticosteroid use
D) An ectopic ACTH-secreting tumour

10. Hyperpigmentation of the skin in a patient with primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) is explained by:

A) Excess cortisol
B) Elevated ACTH stimulating melanocytes ✅
C) Excess aldosterone
D) Vitamin B12 deficiency

Calcium & Bone

11. The most common cause of hypercalcemia in asymptomatic outpatients is:

A) Malignancy
B) Primary hyperparathyroidism ✅
C) Vitamin D toxicity
D) Sarcoidosis

12. Primary hyperparathyroidism is most commonly caused by:

A) Parathyroid carcinoma
B) A single parathyroid adenoma ✅
C) Four-gland hyperplasia
D) Ectopic PTH secretion

Prepare with HighYield

HighYield's DHA question bank covers Endocrinology alongside Family Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, Infectious Diseases and every other discipline tested in the DHA licensing exam, with every question explained. For a full breakdown of costs before you start, see our DHA Exam Fees guide.