Radiation biology: thyroid cancer in children: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Radiology · Radiation biology: thyroid cancer in children

Sample item

After the Chernobyl reactor accident, which malignancy showed a clear rise in children exposed to radioiodine fallout?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Papillary thyroid carcinoma

The child thyroid takes up iodine-131 avidly, and children are far more sensitive to radiation carcinogenesis than adults. Papillary carcinoma appeared a few years after exposure and was the typical radiation-associated thyroid tumour.

Option by option

  • A. Medullary thyroid carcinoma

    Medullary carcinoma arises from C cells and is linked to RET mutations, not radioiodine fallout.

  • B. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (correct)

    Correct. Radioiodine exposure in childhood leads to papillary thyroid cancer.

  • C. Hepatocellular carcinoma

    Hepatocellular carcinoma was not the characteristic fallout-related tumour.

  • D. Osteosarcoma

    Osteosarcoma is linked to bone-seeking agents, not to iodine fallout.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is B, Papillary thyroid carcinoma. The child thyroid takes up iodine-131 avidly, and children are far more sensitive to radiation carcinogenesis than adults.

Why is "Medullary thyroid carcinoma" not the answer?

Medullary carcinoma arises from C cells and is linked to RET mutations, not radioiodine fallout.

Why is "Hepatocellular carcinoma" not the answer?

Hepatocellular carcinoma was not the characteristic fallout-related tumour.

Why is "Osteosarcoma" not the answer?

Osteosarcoma is linked to bone-seeking agents, not to iodine fallout.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiation biology: thyroid cancer in children in Radiology. Papillary carcinoma appeared a few years after exposure and was the typical radiation-associated thyroid tumour.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Radiation biology: thyroid cancer in children?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.