The thyroid is an important gland that functions some control of body metabolism.
Cancer to the thyroid can be significant and is seen in several forms.
Less than 5% of nodules found on exam actually are a result of cancer.
Symptoms:
- Nodule or growth in the neck region
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lymph node enlargement
- Weakness
- Loss of weight
- Symptoms of hyperthyroidism in some cases
- Symptoms of hypothyroidism in some cases
Types:
1.) Papillary
2.) Follicular
3.) Medullary
4.) Anaplastic
Papillary tumor
- This is the most common type of thyroid cancer in the United States.
- Is often seen in women between ages 30s and 40s and is also seen in children
- Can occur following radiation of the head and neck
- Severity is widely variable
- Can metastasize to cervical lymph nodes
- Treatment is usually surgery
Follicular tumor
- Occurs in women whose age is over 50
- Thyroglobulin is a tumor marker used
- Can metastasize to bone or lungs
- Treatment is surgery and radiation
Medullary tumor
- Is a tumor that arises from “parafollicular cells”
- Calcitonin is typically produced from these cells
- Calcitonin may be elevated in the presence of this tumor
- Carcinoembyronic antigen (CEA) is another tumor marker
- There may be a genetic component to this cancer
- Treatment is surgery
- Radioiodine therapy is not beneficial in this tumor
- Prognosis is worse then papillary and follicular tumors
Anaplastic tumor
- Also referred to as undifferentiated
- Is considered more agressive
- Is also more resistant to treatment
- Is quickly found in tissue outside the thyroid
- Surgery is less beneficial
- Radiation therapy and chemotherapy is mildly helpful
Diagnosis
- Biopsy with a fine needle is essential for determination of cancer and classification
- Blood work is essential for tumor markers or other thyroid hormones
- Ultrasound is important
Treatment
Depends of classification
- Surgery
- Radioiodine
- Chemotherapy