Patient case: Thyroid Cancer
A 45-year-old female presents with a painless swelling in the front of her neck that she noticed a few months ago. Recently, she has experienced mild difficulty swallowing and a hoarse voice. She denies any significant weight loss, fatigue, or changes in appetite. Upon physical examination, a firm, non-tender nodule is palpable in the right lobe of the thyroid. There is no visible lymphadenopathy.
Ultrasound of the thyroid shows a hypoechoic solid nodule with irregular borders and microcalcifications in the right lobe. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is performed, revealing papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient is referred for surgical management, and a total thyroidectomy is recommended.
Post-surgery, the patient is started on thyroid hormone replacement therapy and will require regular follow-up to monitor for recurrence.
A) Painful neck swelling
B) Painless neck swelling
C) Weight loss
D) Palpitations
A) Ultrasound
B) CT scan
C) Fine-needle aspiration biopsy
D) Blood test
A) Follicular thyroid carcinoma
B) Medullary thyroid carcinoma
C) Papillary thyroid carcinoma
D) Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
A) Chemotherapy
B) Radiation therapy
C) Total thyroidectomy and hormone replacement
D) Watchful waiting
