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Thyroid cancer - Symptom

Alternative Names

Tumor - thyroid; Cancer - thyroid

Symptoms:

Cough
Difficulty swallowing
Enlargement of the thyroid gland
Hoarseness or changing voice
Neck swelling
Thyroid lump (nodule)

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

Signs and tests:

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:

Elevated serum calcitonin (for medullary cancer) or serum thyroglobulin (for papillary or follicular cancer)
Laryngoscopy showing paralyzed vocal cords
Thyroid biopsy showing anaplastic, follicular, medullary, or papillary cancer cells
Thyroid scan showing a nodule that does not light up on the scan (cold nodule)
Ultrasound of the thyroid showing a nodule

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

Endocrine glands

Thyroid cancer - CT scan

Thyroid gland

Reviewed last on: 2/12/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Ladenson P, Kim M. Thyroid. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa : Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 244.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology 2008: Thyroid Carcinoma. Version 1.2008.

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