Tetany is characterized by all of the following signs except:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Tetany is a condition characterized by involuntary muscle spasms and contractions due to low levels of calcium in the blood. The signs associated with tetany include Trousseau's sign, which is the carpal spasm elicited by inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic pressure, and Chvostek's sign, which is the facial muscle spasm elicited by tapping on the facial nerve. Peroneal sign is not specifically associated with tetany but can be seen in conditions like peroneal nerve injury. Erb's sign, on the other hand, is not a recognized sign of tetany. It is associated with Erb's palsy, a condition resulting from injury to the brachial plexus nerves, typically during childbirth. Tinel's sign, which is a tingling sensation elicited by tapping over a compressed nerve, is also not a characteristic sign of tetany.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a rare genetic disorder that mimics the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism, despite normal or elevated levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). The condition is characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and normal or elevated PTH levels. However, it is not associated with a raised level of plasma PIH (Parathyroid Inhibiting Hormone). In pseudohypoparathyroidism, the body's tissues are resistant to the action of PTH, leading to impaired calcium regulation. Other common features of pseudohypoparathyroidism may include cataract formation, mental retardation, and reduced levels of plasma phosphate.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The most common cause of Addison's disease is autoimmune adrenalitis, also known as autoimmune adrenal insufficiency. In autoimmune adrenalitis, the adrenal glands are damaged by immune system-mediated processes, leading to their dysfunction. This autoimmune destruction typically presents as bilateral adrenal cortex atrophy due to the formation of granulomas. Therefore, the commonest cause of Addison's disease is the presence of granulomas in the adrenal glands, making option A, Granuloma, the correct choice.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Acromegaly is a disorder caused by excessive growth hormone production by the pituitary gland in adults, leading to an increase in muscle mass (hypertrophy). Hoffman syndrome, characterized by increased muscle mass with slowness of activity, is a clinical feature often seen in individuals with acromegaly. The excessive growth hormone levels in acromegaly can cause acral growth, soft tissue swelling, and muscle hypertrophy, contributing to the characteristic features of the condition, including Hoffman syndrome. Therefore, the correct answer is Acromegaly.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Hypercalcemia refers to elevated levels of calcium in the blood. The effects of hypercalcemia include increased urinary frequency (polyuria), gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation rather than diarrhea, kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), and various cardiac abnormalities. One key cardiac abnormality associated with hypercalcemia is a prolonged QT interval rather than a shortened QT interval. Prolongation of the QT interval can predispose individuals to arrhythmias, particularly Torsades de pointes. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as a shortened QT interval is not a typical effect of hypercalcemia.