Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: thyroglobulin follow-up: 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.

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Radiology · Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: thyroglobulin follow-up

Sample item

A woman has had total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Which blood test is the key tumour marker during follow-up?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Serum thyroglobulin

After total thyroidectomy and ablation, thyroglobulin should be undetectable, and a rising level indicates residual or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer. Calcitonin is for medullary carcinoma, and CEA and anti-TPO antibodies are not follow-up markers for papillary carcinoma.

Option by option

  • A. Carcinoembryonic antigen

    CEA is a marker for colorectal and medullary carcinoma.

  • B. Thyroid peroxidase antibody

    Anti-TPO antibodies indicate autoimmune thyroid disease.

  • C. Serum thyroglobulin (correct)

    Correct. Thyroglobulin is the marker of differentiated thyroid cancer.

  • D. Serum calcitonin

    Calcitonin is a marker of medullary carcinoma from C cells.

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.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Serum thyroglobulin. After total thyroidectomy and ablation, thyroglobulin should be undetectable, and a rising level indicates residual or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer.

Why is "Carcinoembryonic antigen" not the answer?

CEA is a marker for colorectal and medullary carcinoma.

Why is "Thyroid peroxidase antibody" not the answer?

Anti-TPO antibodies indicate autoimmune thyroid disease.

Why is "Serum calcitonin" not the answer?

Calcitonin is a marker of medullary carcinoma from C cells.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: thyroglobulin follow-up in Radiology. Calcitonin is for medullary carcinoma, and CEA and anti-TPO antibodies are not follow-up markers for papillary carcinoma.

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 Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine basics: thyroglobulin follow-up?

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.