Rule Out / Past cases / Papillary thyroid cancer
Rule Out case #10 · ModeratePapillary thyroid cancer: a six-clue practice case
Read the clues in order and name the diagnosis as early as you can. Clues move from the patient’s story to the classic findings.
Play it as a game firstGuess before each clue unlocks, then share your score.The clues
Clue 1: A 35-year-old woman noticed a painless lump in her neck a month ago.
Clue 2: It hasn't gone away, and otherwise she feels healthy.
Clue 3: She had radiation to her neck as a child.
Clue 4: The lump is firm and rises when she swallows, and a lymph node beside it is enlarged.
Clue 5: Her TSH is normal, and ultrasound shows a 2 cm solid nodule with tiny calcifications.
Clue 6: A needle biopsy shows cells with clear, empty-looking nuclei and nuclear grooves.
Show the diagnosis and takeaways
What gives it away
- It is the most common thyroid cancer and has an excellent outlook.
- Radiation exposure in childhood is a risk factor.
- Thyroid nodules are evaluated with ultrasound and needle biopsy.
Ran as Rule Out #10 (Tuesday, October 27, 2026).
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