Thyroid cancer
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Thyroid cancer is cancer that develops from the tissues of the thyroid gland.[1] It is a disease in which cells grow abnormally and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body.[8][9] Symptoms can include swelling or a lump in the neck.[1] Cancer can also occur in the thyroid after spread from other locations, in which case it is not classified as thyroid cancer.[4]
Thyroid cancer | |
---|---|
Micrograph of a papillary thyroid carcinoma demonstrating diagnostic features (nuclear clearing and overlapping nuclei). | |
Specialty | Oncology |
Symptoms | Swelling or lump in the neck[1] |
Risk factors | Radiation exposure, enlarged thyroid, family history,[1][2] obesity[3] |
Diagnostic method | Ultrasound, fine needle aspiration[1] |
Differential diagnosis | Thyroid nodule, metastatic disease[1][4] |
Treatment | Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, thyroid hormone, targeted therapy, watchful waiting[1] |
Prognosis | Five year survival rates 98% (US)[5] |
Frequency | 3.2 million (2015)[6] |
Deaths | 31,900 (2015)[7] |
Risk factors include radiation exposure at a young age, having an enlarged thyroid, family history and obesity.[1][2][3] The four main types are papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.[4] Diagnosis is often based on ultrasound and fine needle aspiration.[1] Screening people without symptoms and at normal risk for the disease is not recommended as of 2017.[10]
Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy including radioactive iodine, chemotherapy, thyroid hormone, targeted therapy, and watchful waiting.[1] Surgery may involve removing part or all of the thyroid.[4] Five-year survival rates are 98% in the United States.[5]
Globally as of 2015, 3.2 million people have thyroid cancer.[6] In 2012, 298,000 new cases occurred.[11] It most commonly is diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 65.[5] Women are affected more often than men.[5] Those of Asian descent are more commonly affected;[4] with a higher rate of mortality among Filipino females.[12] Rates have increased in the last few decades, which is believed to be due to better detection.[11] In 2015, it resulted in 31,900 deaths.[7]