Thyroid Nodules: Clinical, Pathologic and Pathophysiologic Correlates Flashcards
Thyroid nodules are present in about ________ percent of the population.
50% - 60%
The risk of thyroid cancer developing from a nodule is about ______.
10%
What is the most common malignant thyroid cancer?
Papillary
Papillary carcinoma has a(n) ____________ prognosis.
excellent
Which kind of thyroid cancer can display psammoma bodies?
Trick question–there are two kinds of thyroid cancer that can have psammoma bodies:
- medullary thyroid carcinoma
- thyroid papillary carcinoma
Fixed nodules are more likely to be ___________.
malignant
What three steps are needed in the evaluation of a thyroid nodule?
TSH
Ultrasound
Free-needle evaluation
What neoplasm presents with the “Orphan Annie eye” nuclei?
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Describe some characteristics of the most common thyroid cancer.
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
- is well differentiated
- has an excellent prognosis
- is multifocal
- spreads through lymphatics
- has cleared out nuclei
- has nuclear grooves
- has psammoma bodies
Describe anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
- has a poor prognosis
- most often occurs in the elderly
- recapitulates spindle cells, squamous cells, and giant cells
- rapid growth
- can hemorrhage
____________ thyroid cancer will stain thyroglobulin negative.
Medullary
Why is it called “papillary” carcinoma?
Because the cells grow papillae-like projections, which can be seen under the microscope
What kind of molecule is RET?
A surface tyrosine kinase receptor
What three cellular mutations are common in papillary thyroid carcinoma?
RET
Ras
BRAF
Follicular thyroid carcinoma is commonly (50%) caused by the _______________ fusion.
Pax8-PPARy
