Get answers to your Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery questions.
Dr. Douglas Turner’s Bio | Q&A Archive
What are thyroid tumors?
Thyroid tumors are either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) growths. Examples of benign tumors are adenomas, which secrete thyroid hormone. Malignant tumors are more rare and are found in many stages of malignancy.
What are thyroid adenomas?
Thyroid adenomas grow from the cell layer that lines the inner surface of the thyroid gland. The adenoma itself secretes thyroid hormone. If the adenoma secretes enough thyroid hormone, it may cause hyperthyroidism. Thyroid adenomas may be treated if they cause hyperthyroidism. Treatment may include surgery to remove part of the thyroid (the overactive nodule).
What are cancerous thyroid tumors?
Cancer of the thyroid occurs more often in people who have undergone radiation to the head, neck, or chest. However, most thyroid cancer can be cured with appropriate treatment. Thyroid cancer usually appears as small growths (nodules) within the thyroid gland. Some signs that a nodule may be cancerous include:
What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer?
The first sign of a cancerous nodule in the thyroid gland is a painless lump in neck.
However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Other symptoms may include:
However, the symptoms of thyroid cancer may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.
Diagnosis of thyroid cancer:
In addition to a complete medical history and medical examination, diagnostic procedures for thyroid cancer may include:
Thyroid cancer comes in four forms:
| papillary thyroid cancer | Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common form of thyroid cancer, accounting for about 60 to 70 percent of all cases. This form of thyroid cancer affects more women than men.
Treatment for papillary cancer usually involves:
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| follicular thyroid cancer | Follicular thyroid cancer occurs most often among elderly patients and accounts for about 15 percent of thyroid cancer cases. This type of thyroid cancer is more aggressive and tends to spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
Treatment for follicular cancer may include:
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| anaplastic thyroid cancer | Anaplastic thyroid cancer tends to occur most often among elderly women and accounts for less than 10 percent of thyroid cancer cases. This quick-growing cancer usually results in a large growth in the neck. Approximately 80 percent of patients diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer die within one year of diagnosis.
Treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer may include:
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| medullary thyroid cancer | Medullary thyroid cancer tends to spread through the lymphatic system (which is part of the immune system and consists of a system of vessels that connect lymphs throughout the body) and the bloodstream to other parts of the body. This type of cancer produces excessive amounts of calcitonin, a hormone also produced by the thyroid gland itself.
Additional surgery may be necessary if the cancer has spread. Because medullary cancer tends to run in families, screening tests for genetic abnormalities in the blood cells may be conducted. |
...a nodule found in a man's thyroid is more likely to be cancer than when found in a woman?
What is radioactive iodine treatment?
The thyroid needs iodine to properly produce the thyroid hormones. By administering radioactive iodine to a patient, the thyroid tissue will absorb the altered iodine, which then destroys that thyroid tissue.
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