Thyroid Cancer

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Thyroid cancer (choose one):
Introduction
Anatomy
Causes of thyroid cancer
Histopathology	There are 4 different thyroid cancer types: Anaplastic thyroid cancer Follicular carcinoma Medullary thyroid carcinoma Papillary thyroid adenocarcinoma
Thyroid nodules and cancer
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
Tests for thyroid cancer
Staging of thyroid cancer
Treatment for thyroid cancer
Prognosis for thyroid cancer
10-year survival for thyroid cancer
What's new with thyroid cancer
Summary

[edit] Thyroid Cancer

Introduction:

Thyroid cancer is the most common among the cancers of the endocrine glands. It is more common among women than men. The incidence of thyroid cancer among women is about 6 per 100,000 whereas men have an incidence of about 2.5 per 100,000. In 1995 in the US there were 13,900 new cases of thyroid cancer and 1,120 died from it (Ref.1, p.1629).

Although we speak of thyroid cancer as if it were one type of cancer, it is in reality a collection of very diverse cancers that are classified by their histology, the appearance under the microscope. The reason this is important to know is that the rate, at which the various types of thyroid cancer grow, is vastly different. The faster the cancer grows, the more difficult to control and the deadlier it is. I will explain this in more detail below. There seems to also be a difference whether or not the thyroid cancer is found in a younger or older person. The older the person, the more malignant the growth behavior and the worse the prognosis.

Anatomy:

The thyroid gland is situated just below the larynx (voice box) and embraces the trachea (windpipe). The two lobes on each side are connected via the slimmer isthmus, which is the middle part in the front. Many thyroid cancers often start in one of the lobes, but there is a higher risk to develop an identical cancer in the other lobe later in life and this has become important for diagnosis and treatment.

Histopathology:

There are 4 distinct types among thyroid cancers, which are described in more detail under these links.

There are 4 different thyroid cancer types:

Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Follicular carcinoma

Medullary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid adenocarcinoma

Thyroid Nodules And Cancer:

The thyroid gland has a tendency to produce nodules (lumps) in one or both lobes. In the US about 4 to 7 % of the population have benign thyroid nodules. This is more common in women than in men. The frequency of nodule development throughout life is very constant and is 0.08% per year. For some reason thyroid cancer seems to develop in these nodules and it does so with a frequency of 10 to 20% of these nodules. When there has been an exposure to radiation (x-rays, atomic energy from the Hiroshima bomb, nuclear accident disaster) this rate can go up to 30 or 40% of cancer in thyroid nodules.

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Cancer overview

Thyroid cancer

Summary:

As in other cancers early detection and surgical excision is of the utmost importance. The thyroid gland is easily palpable right under the voice box and even a small nodule can be picked up by the patient. The key for the patient is to take action after the detection of a thyroid lump as described above. A biopsy is done to show what cell type there is. If it is cancer, then it must be removed. Following removal there must be a proper follow-up at regular intervals to make sure that the cancer does not come back.

Home page

Cancer overview

Thyroid cancer

References:

1. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 1. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Thyroid tumors.

2. Cancer: Principles &Practice of Oncology, 4^th edition, by V.T. De Vita,Jr., et. al J.B. Lippincott Co.,Philadelphia, 1993. Thyroid tumors.

3. CC Cheung et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001 May;86(5):2187-2190.

4. F Dede et al. Clin Nucl Med 2001 May;26(5):396-399.

5. S Hermann et al. Int J Cancer 2001 Jun 15;92(6):805-811.

6. I Sturm et al. J Clin Oncol 1999 May;17(5):1364-1374.

7. VL Greenberg et al. Thyroid 2001 Apr;11(4):315-325.

8. K Ohta et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001May;86(5):2170-2177.

9. Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier

10. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc