Surgery The course of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is best described by which of the following statements? A Metastases are rare; local growth is rapid; erosion into the trachea and large blood vessels is frequent B Local invasion and metastases almost never occur, which makes the term carcinoma misleading C Bony metastases are frequent and produce an osteolytic pattern particularly in vertebrae D Metastases frequently occur to cervical lymph nodes; distant metastases and local invasion are rare 💡 Explanation The course of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is best described by which of the following statements? ✓ Correct Answer: D. Metastases frequently occur to cervical lymph nodes; distant metastases and local invasion are rare