A 50-year-old woman has a thyroid nodule. Which histologic finding is characteristic of papillary thyroid carcinoma?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Orphan Annie eye nuclei and psammoma bodies

  1. Step 1: Papillary carcinoma shows clear, ground-glass nuclei and calcified psammoma bodies. Step 2. It spreads to cervical lymph nodes and has an excellent prognosis. Answer: Orphan Annie nuclei and psammoma bodies. Why not the others: amyloid is medullary carcinoma, capsular and vascular invasion is follicular carcinoma and anaplastic cells are anaplastic carcinoma.

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