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Thyroid cancer

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Thyroid cancer - CT scan
Thyroid cancer - CT scan
Thyroid cancer - CT scan
Thyroid cancer - CT scan
Thyroid gland
Thyroid gland

Alternative Names    Return to top

Tumor - thyroid; Cancer - thyroid

Definition    Return to top

Thyroid cancer is a cancerous growth of the thyroid gland.

Causes    Return to top

Thyroid cancer can occur in all age groups.

People who have had radiation therapy to the neck are at higher risk. This therapy was commonly used in the 1950s to treat enlarged thymus glands, adenoids and tonsils, and skin disorders. People who received radiation therapy as children have a higher incidence of thyroid cancer.

Other risk factors are a family history of thyroid cancer and chronic goiter. The disease affects 1 in 1,000 people.

There are several types of thyroid cancer:

Symptoms    Return to top

Note: Symptoms may vary depending on the type of thyroid cancer

Exams and Tests    Return to top

A physical examination can reveal a thyroid mass or nodule (usually in the lower part of the front of the neck), or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Tests for thyroid cancer:

This disease may also affect the results of the following tests:

Treatment    Return to top

Treatment varies depending on the type of tumor.

Surgery is usually the treatment of choice, and the entire thyroid gland is usually removed. If the physician suspects that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck, these will also be removed during surgery.

Radiation therapy with radioactive iodine is often used with or without surgery. Radiation therapy with beam radiation can also be used.

After treatment, you need to take thyroid hormone to replace what your glands used to make. The dose is usually a little higher than what your body needs, which helps keep the cancer from coming back.

If the cancer does not respond to surgery or radiation and has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be used, but this is only effective for a third of patients.

Support Groups    Return to top

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group made up of people who share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Anaplastic carcinoma has the worst outcome of all the types of thyroid cancer. Follicular carcinomas are often fast growing and may invade other tissues, but the outlook is still good -- most patients are cured.

The outcome with medullary carcinoma varies. Women under age 40 have a better chance of a good outcome.

Papillary carcinomas are usually slower growing. Most people are cured and have a normal life expectancy.

Many patients who have surgery or radiation for thyroid cancer must take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of their lives.

Possible Complications    Return to top

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your health care provider if you notice a lump in your neck.

Also call if your symptoms get worse during treatment.

Prevention    Return to top

There is no known prevention. Awareness of risk (such as previous radiation therapy) can allow earlier diagnosis and treatment.

References    Return to top

Sherman SI, Angelos P, Ball DW, Byrd D, Clark OH, Daniels GH, et al. Thyroid carcinoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2007;5:568-621.

Sampson E, Brierley JD, Le LW, Rotstein L, Tsang RW. Clinical management and outcome of papillary and follicular (differentiated) thyroid cancer presenting with distant metastasis at diagnosis. Cancer. 2007;110:1451-1456.

Tuttle RM, Leboeuf R, Martorella AJ. Papillary thyroid cancer: monitoring and therapy. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2007;36:753-758.

Update Date: 3/24/2008

Updated by: Stephen Grund, MD, PhD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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