A 45-year-old female with Graves disease underwent surgical removal of her thyroid gland. During the postoperative period, her serum calcium was low. The most probable reason for her low serum calcium is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Surgical removal of the thyroid gland can sometimes result in injury to the parathyroid glands, which are located in close proximity. The parathyroid glands are responsible for regulating calcium levels in the body, and injury to these glands can lead to hypoparathyroidism and subsequently low serum calcium levels. The other options (hyperparathyroidism, myxedema, and hypothyroidism) would not normally result in low serum calcium levels.

A 45-Year-Old Female with Graves Disease Underwent Surgical Removal of Her