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Head and Neck Cancers Quiz
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Which is the most common histological type of thyroid cancer?
- A Medullary thyroid carcinoma You picked ✕
- B Primary thyroid lymphoma You picked ✕
- C Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid You picked ✕
- D Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma You picked ✕
- E Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid You picked ✓
Correct!
Incorrect
The answer is E: Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
Explanation
Why E is correct
See Thyroid Cancer. Option E is correct. Papillary carcinoma is the most common malignant thyroid tumour, making up around 80 to 90% of cases in one review. It arises from the follicular cells (the cells that line the thyroid follicles and make thyroid hormone). Thyroid cancer in general usually presents as a nodule (a distinct lump) in the gland or as diffuse swelling, and it can also come with enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. About 70% of new diagnoses are in females, and the five-year survival for thyroid cancer overall is over 90%. So when a thyroid cancer is found, papillary carcinoma is the type to expect first, with follicular carcinoma next, and the other types, medullary and anaplastic, are much rarer. A plain memory aid: papillary is the popular one, the most common.
- Commonest type: Papillary carcinoma, around 80 to 90% of thyroid cancers in one review.
- Cell of origin: The follicular cells that make thyroid hormone.
- Order of frequency: Follicular carcinoma comes next, and medullary and anaplastic types are much rarer.
Why the other options are incorrect
- A. Medullary thyroid carcinoma: Medullary carcinoma arises from the parafollicular C cells (the calcitonin-producing cells of the thyroid), not from the hormone-making follicular cells. It accounts for only 1 to 2% of thyroid cancers, which makes it a rare type. Your answer
- B. Primary thyroid lymphoma: Primary thyroid lymphoma is a cancer of lymphoid tissue growing within the thyroid, and it has been reported in people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroid inflammation). It is not a common cancer of the thyroid compared with papillary carcinoma. Your answer
- C. Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid: Follicular carcinoma is the second most common type. It also arises from the follicular cells that make thyroid hormone, but it is far less frequent than papillary carcinoma. Your answer
- D. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Anaplastic carcinoma is the most aggressive form of thyroid cancer and is far less common than papillary. It is seen mostly in older patients and carries a poor outlook. Your answer
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More questions from this set. Start the quiz to answer them and see each explanation.
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1
Which histological type accounts for the vast majority of head and neck cancers?
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2
A 42-year-old woman has a painless ulcer on the lateral border of her tongue that has not healed for five weeks, and she has no fever. Which feature of this presentation most strongly warrants a suspected cancer referral?
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