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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Thyroid Cancer

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It makes hormones that help the body work normally. Anyone can get cancer of the thyroid gland. But certain factors may increase the risk. These include

You should see a doctor if you have a lump or swelling in your neck. Your doctor can order tests to see if you have cancer and, if so, which type. Treatment depends on the type and how far the cancer has spread. They include surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone treatment, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Some patients receive a combination of treatments.

National Cancer Institute

Thyroid Cancer on Wikipedia

'''Thyroid cancer''' is cancer of the thyroid gland. The thyroid concentrates iodine and so is extremely sensitive to the effects of various radioactive isotopes of iodine produced by nuclear fission. These radioactive isotopes increase the chances of developing cancer, though thyroid cancer can develop even without any exposure to radioactivity. Some evidence suggests that insufficient or excessive dietary iodine may also increase your risk for thyroid cancer.

Papillary Thyroid Cancer

This is the most common type of thyroid cancer. It occurs more frequently in women and presents in the 30-40year age group. It is also the predominant cancer type in children with thyroid cancer, and in patients with thyroid cancer who have had previous radiation to the head and neck (in this group, the cancer tends to be multifocal with early lymphatic spread, and portends a poor prognosis)

Pathology

*Characteristic Orphan Annie eye nuclear inclusions and psammoma bodies on light microscopy *Lymphatic spread is more common than hematogenous spread *Multifocality is common *The so-called Lateral Aberrant Thyroid is actually lymph node metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Prognostic Indicators

AGES - Age, Grade, Extent of disease, Size AMES - Age, Metastasis, Extent of disease, Size MACIS - Metastasis, Age at presentation, Completeness of surgical resection, Invasion (extrathyroidal), Size (this is a modification of the AGES system) TNM - tumor, node, metastasis

Surgical Treatment

*Minimal disease - hemithyroidectomy (or unilateral lobectomy) and isthmectomy is sufficient *Gross disease - total thyroidectomy

Arguments for Total Thyroidectomy

*Reduced risk of recurrence *Papillary carcinoma is a multifocal disease (hemithyroidectomy may leave disease in the other lobe) *Ease of monitoring with thyroglobulin (sensitivity for picking up recurrence is increased in presence of total thyroidectomy) *Ease of detection of metastatic ...   [ Read More ]


External Resources

Sarahealth.com - Details information about Sara Rosenthal's book on thyroid cancer.

Rocky Mountain Diagnostics, Inc. - Distributes radio and enzyme immunoassays for biogenic amines, thyroid function, fertility and reproduction, growth factors, endocrinology, cancer and immunology markers.

Surviving Thyroid Cancer - A young woman details her diagnosis, operation and radiotherapy.

Thyroid Cancer Songbook - Thyroid cancer survivor, Megan Stendebach, shares humor and songs about living with this rare disease.

Jenny Moore - Fifteen year old who has leukemia and thyroid cancer.

ATC: Oral Cancer - Overview summary from the American Thyroid Clinic of Austin, Texas.

Thyroid Disease Manager - Features a complete analysis of thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, nodules, cancer, and aspects of physiology.

Thyroid Disease - Pathology lecture notes and pictures of goiter, including cancer.

Women with thyroid problem have lower risk of breast cancer - According to a new study, women suffering from hypothyroidism are less likely to develop breast cancer than women with normal thyroid function.

No Cancer Link to Nuclear Site Found - People who were exposed to radioactive gas in Washington state during the Cold War have not experienced higher rates of thyroid cancer. From Health Day.


Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Thyroid Diseases
Cancer--Living with Cancer
Cancer
Anal Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cancer Chemotherapy
Cancer in Children

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