Thyroid cancers
Thyroid nodules and goitres (thyroid swellings) are very common, especially in females. Most nodules and goitres are benign.
Thyroid cancer is linked with patients with a family history of thyroid cancer and patients who have had prior radiation exposure to the neck. There are a few syndromes and conditions that are also linked with thyroid cancer.
There are several main types of thyroid cancer with several subtypes. Most thyroid cancer is treated with surgery which is sometimes followed by a treatment called radio-iodine.
Papillary cancer
Papillary thyroid cancer is by far the commonest type of thyroid cancer. It can occur at any age, even in younger patients.
Follicular cancer
Follicular cancer is the 2nd commonest thyroid cancer. It is treated predominantly with thyroid surgery followed by radioiodine. It is very well treated and the majority of patients are cured of this condition.
Medullary cancer
Medullary thyroid cancer is rare. It can be inherited on occasion or can occur sporadically by chance. Patients with this type of tumour usually undergo genetic testing to see if they have an inherited gene where other members of the family may be affected.
Anaplastic cancer
Anaplastic thryoid cancer is an extremely rare cancer and usually presents in very elderly females as a rapidly growing thyroid mass. It is usually incurable. Diagnosis is usually made with a core biopsy. Sometimes treatments such as radiotherapy may slow down the progression of such tumours a little.
Thyroid Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of “cancer” that affect the lymph gland system anywhere in the body. It is usually treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy and often by Haematology specialists. Thyroid lymphoma usually presents as a large thyroid mass and the diagnosis is made with a core biopsy. Surgery does not form any part of the treatment
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