Endocrine: 15.4: Thyroid Neoplasia

Question 1

What tumors are seen in MEN2A?

Answer 1

• medullary carcinoma of the thyroid
• pheochromocytoma
• parathyroid adenoma

Question 2

How does follicular carcinoma of the thyroid spread?

Answer 2

• hematogenously
• *** usually carcinomas spread via lymphatics- this is an exception ***

Question 3

This is a benign thyroid tumor comprised of proliferation of follicles surrounded by a fibrous capsule.

Answer 3

follicular adenoma of the thyroid

Question 4

Which nodes will papillary carcinoma of the thyroid spread to first?

Answer 4

cervical lymph nodes

Question 5

What genes are associated with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 5

• MEN2A and MEN2B
  
  • mutations in the RET oncogene

Question 6

A decreased 131-I radioactive uptake study can be used to diagnose ____ or _____.

Answer 6

• adenoma
• carcinoma

Question 7

What is follicular carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 7

a malignant proliferation of the follicles surrounded by a fibrous capsule

Question 8

What is papillary carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 8

• the most common type of thyroid carcinoma
• finger-like projections with atypical nuclei

Question 9

Dx?

• an undifferentiated, malignant tumor of the thyroid
• often seen in the elderly
• invades local structures
• poor prognosis

Answer 9

anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid

Question 10

This thyroid cancer is a malignant proliferation of the follicles surrounded by a fibrous capsule with invasion through it.

Answer 10

follicular carcinoma of the thyroid

Question 11

What is follicular adenoma of the thyroid?

Answer 11

benign tumor proliferation of follicles surrounded by a fibrous capsule

Question 12

How can follicular carcinoma of the thyroid and follicular adenoma of the thyroid be distinguished?

Answer 12

• both = proliferation of the follicles surrounded by a capsule
• adenoma = contained within the capsule
• carcinoma = invasion thru the capsule

Question 13

What lab findings will be seen in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 13

• high calcitonin
• hypocalcemia

Question 14

What is medullary carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 14

a malignant proliferation of parafollicular C cells with localized amyloidosis

Question 15

What is anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 15

• an undifferentiated, malignant tumor of the thyroid
• often seen in the elderly
• invades local structures
• poor prognosis

Question 16

On histology, what is the defining feature of papillary carcinoma?

Answer 16

• orphan Annie-eyed nuclei (white clearing in the center of the nucleus)
• nuclear grooves (line in the nucleus)

Question 17

What will the pathology findings be in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid?

Answer 17

malignant cells in an amyloid (pink) stroma

Question 18

Name 4 carcinomas that spread hematogenously (and not lymphatically per usual).

Answer 18

1. renal cell carcinoma
2. hepatocellular carcinoma
3. follicular carcinoma of the thyroid
4. choreocarcinoma

Question 19

An increased 131-I radioactive uptake study can be used to diagnose ____ or _____.

Answer 19

• Graves
• nodular goiter

Question 20

What is a psammoma body?

Answer 20

calcification of papillary architecture seen in papillary carcinomas

Question 21

What does calcitonin do?

Answer 21

lowers serum Ca++ by causing renal excretion

Question 22

Dx?

• malignant cells in an amyloid (pink) stroma in the thyroid

Answer 22

medullary carcinoma of the thyroid

Question 23

Dx?

• a malignant proliferation of parafollicular C cells with localized amyloidosis

Answer 23

medullary carcinoma of the thyroid

Question 24

What tumors are seen in MEN2B?

Answer 24

• medullary carcinoma of the thyroid
• pheochromocytoma
• ganglioneuromas of the oral mucosa

Question 25

Dx?

• orphan Annie-eyed nuclei (white clearing in the center of the nucleus)
• nuclear grooves (line in the nucleus)

Answer 25

papillary carcinoma of the thyroid