PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What are the five main types of thyroid carcinoma?

1. Papillary, follicular, medullary, basal cell, sarcomatoid

2. Papillary, follicular, medullary, Hurthle cell, anaplastic

3. Papillary, follicular, medullary, lymphocytic, neuroendocrine

4. Papillary, follicular, medullary, neuroendocrine, squamous

The correct answer is: Papillary, follicular, medullary, Hurthle cell, anaplastic

The correct answer identifies the five main types of thyroid carcinoma as papillary, follicular, medullary, Hurthle cell, and anaplastic. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common form of thyroid cancer, often characterized by slow growth and a good prognosis. Follicular carcinoma typically arises from the follicular cells of the thyroid and accounts for a significant proportion of thyroid malignancies. Medullary carcinoma originates from the parafollicular C cells and is linked to genetic syndromes like Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN). The inclusion of Hurthle cell carcinoma reflects its specific histological features, stemming from oncocytic cells in the follicular epithelium, which can exhibit aggressive behavior. Lastly, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive form that usually arises from pre-existing differentiated thyroid cancers and presents a significant challenge due to its rapid progression and poor prognosis. Other options list types of cancer that are either unrelated to the thyroid or less commonly classified specifically as thyroid carcinomas. For example, basal cell and sarcomatoid carcinomas are not types of thyroid cancer, while neuroendocrine and squamous cell carcinomas do not typically originate in the thyroid gland. Thus, the