Thyroid Malignancies: Classifications, Indicators, and Remedies
Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the thyroid gland, a small gland located in the neck. This article provides an overview of the different types of thyroid cancer, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
Types of Thyroid Cancer and Characteristics
Thyroid cancer can be classified into three main categories: papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic, and oncocytic cancers. Each type has distinct features and behaviours.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common, slow-growing, and usually arises in one thyroid lobe. It can spread to lymph nodes but is generally highly treatable. Some variants, such as tall cell and diffuse sclerosing, grow faster.
Follicular thyroid cancer is less common but more likely to spread to distant organs (like the lungs and bones) than lymph nodes. It is often treated similarly to papillary cancer.
Medullary thyroid cancer arises from parafollicular cells and produces calcitonin hormones. It is less common and sometimes hereditary.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is very rare but aggressive, with undifferentiated cancer cells. It has a poor prognosis.
Oncocytic thyroid cancer is a variant of differentiated thyroid cancer and is sometimes classified with follicular cancers.
Common Symptoms Across Types
Thyroid cancer often presents with a noticeable lump or swelling in the neck, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, persistent cough not related to a cold, neck pain or discomfort, and shortness of breath in advanced cases. Many thyroid cancers are asymptomatic early on and may be detected incidentally during unrelated neck exams or imaging.
Causes
Exposure to radiation, especially in childhood, family history and genetic mutations (especially for medullary thyroid cancer), iodine deficiency (linked more to follicular type), older age, and gender (more common in women) are risk factors for thyroid cancer.
Treatment Overview
The primary treatment for most thyroid cancers is surgery, known as a thyroidectomy. Other treatment options include radioactive iodine therapy, thyroid hormone therapy, external radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and active surveillance for low-risk cases.
Memorial Sloan Kettering and other research centres are investigating refined molecular testing and novel therapies to tailor treatment precisely and avoid overtreatment for low-risk cases.
In summary, papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are the most common and generally have good outcomes with treatment, while anaplastic thyroid cancer is rare but very aggressive, requiring more intensive therapy. Symptoms often start with a neck lump and can silently progress initially. Most cases of medullary thyroid cancer are sporadic, occurring without a family history.
References: [1] American Cancer Society. (2021). Thyroid cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroid-cancer.html [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Thyroid cancer. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thyroid-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20375814 [3] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Thyroid cancer treatment (PDQ®). Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/thyroid/hp/thyroid-treatment-pdq [4] Thyroid Foundation of Canada. (2021). Thyroid cancer. Retrieved from https://www.thyroid.ca/patients/thyroid-cancer/ [5] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (2021). Thyroid cancer. Retrieved from https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/thyroid-cancer
- Other than the slow-growing papillary thyroid cancer, medical conditions like follicular, medullary, anaplastic, and oncocytic thyroid cancers have varying behaviors and may require more intensive treatment due to their potential to spread to different organs or exhibit aggressive growth.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, understanding the science behind different types of thyroid cancer, such as their causes, symptoms, and treatment options, can help individuals make informed decisions about their health and seek appropriate medical intervention when needed.
