A tumor similar to that shown in the illustration is observed in a biopsy specimen from the thyroid of a 50-year-old woman. An adjacent lymph node is also involved. Which of the following descriptions of this tumor is most appropriate?
High-Yield Explanation
- Given histopathological slide is showing well formed papillae with orphan Annie eye nuclei which are characteristic to papillary carcinoma of thyroid. - Papillary carcinoma is most common form of thyroid cancer. - It is associated with RET-PTC gene mutation & radiation exposure - These are slow growing tumors & often remains localized to thyroid, have an excellent prognosis, with a 10-year survival rate in excess of 95% - Papillary carcinoma is almost always nonfunctional & manifest most often as painless mass in neck.