Which malignant thyroid cancer is commonly treated with thyroidectomy rather than radioactive iodine?

• A. Grave's disease.
• B. Subacute thyroiditis.
• C. Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
• D. Papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Answer: (D)

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is treated primarily with surgical removal of the thyroid. This approach removes the malignant tissue and provides definitive staging, which is why thyroidectomy is the main initial step for this cancer. After surgery, radioactive iodine may be used to ablate remaining thyroid tissue or treat metastatic disease, but the starting and most common treatment is surgery.

The other options are nonmalignant thyroid conditions. Grave’s disease is autoimmune hyperthyroidism managed with antithyroid meds, radioactive iodine, or sometimes surgery, but it is not cancer. Subacute thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are inflammatory/autoimmune conditions, not cancers, and are treated with anti-inflammatory therapies or hormone replacement rather than surgical removal of a cancer.