Thyroid Cancer

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Malignant tumours of the thyroid are extremely rare.  These cancers are classified according to their histological appearance under a microscope.  The main types seen are as follows:

Papillary thyroid cancer (the majority) - often occurring in young females.  Prognosis is excellent.

Follicular thyroid cancer - usually occurring the older age groups.

Others - e.g. medullary thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer, lyphoma, sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma

Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancers usually first present with either a thyroid nodule or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck region.  Diagnosis is via histological testing of a fine needle aspirate.

Treatment of Thyroid Cancer

Cancers of the thyroid gland are generally treated by total or partial removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy).  This is usually followed-up by post-operative radioactive iodine to kill any remaining cancerous thyroid cells.

Radiotherapy may be used when the cancer is unresectable, when it recurs after surgery, or to relieve pain from bone spread (bone metastasis).

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