What is thyroid cancer

Trouble breathing. Trouble swallowing. Pain when swallowing. Physical exam and health history : An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps nodules or swelling in the neck, voice box , and lymph nodes , and anything else that seems unusual.

Laryngoscopy : A procedure in which the doctor checks the larynx voice box with a mirror or a laryngoscope. A laryngoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. A thyroid tumor may press on vocal cords. The laryngoscopy is done to see if the vocal cords are moving normally.

Blood hormone studies : A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain hormones released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual higher or lower than normal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it. The blood may be checked for abnormal levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH.

TSH is made by the pituitary gland in the brain. It stimulates the release of thyroid hormone and controls how fast follicular thyroid cells grow. The blood may also be checked for high levels of the hormone calcitonin and antithyroid antibodies. Blood chemistry studies : A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as calcium , released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body.

An unusual higher or lower than normal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease. Ultrasound exam : A procedure in which high-energy sound waves ultrasound are bounced off internal tissues or organs in the neck and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.

The picture can be printed to be looked at later. This procedure can show the size of a thyroid nodule and whether it is solid or a fluid-filled cyst. Ultrasound may be used to guide a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. CT scan CAT scan : A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the neck, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.

A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.

Enlarge Computed tomography CT scan of the head and neck. The patient lies on a table that slides through the CT scanner, which takes x-ray pictures of the inside of the head and neck. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid : The removal of thyroid tissue using a thin needle.

The needle is inserted through the skin into the thyroid. Several tissue samples are removed from different parts of the thyroid. A pathologist views the tissue samples under a microscope to look for cancer cells. Because the type of thyroid cancer can be hard to diagnose, patients should ask to have biopsy samples checked by a pathologist who has experience diagnosing thyroid cancer.

Surgical biopsy : The removal of the thyroid nodule or one lobe of the thyroid during surgery so the cells and tissues can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. The age of the patient at the time of diagnosis. The type of thyroid cancer. The stage of the cancer. Whether the cancer was completely removed by surgery.

The patient's general health. Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred come back. Key Points After thyroid cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the thyroid or to other parts of the body. There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body. Cancer may spread from where it began to other parts of the body. Stages are used to describe thyroid cancer based on the type of thyroid cancer and the age of the patient: Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients younger than 55 years Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients 55 years and older Anaplastic thyroid cancer in patients of all ages Medullary thyroid cancer in patients of all ages Thyroid cancer can recur come back after it has been treated.

CT scan CAT scan : A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the chest, abdomen , and brain , taken from different angles. Ultrasound exam : A procedure in which high-energy sound waves ultrasound are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. Chest x-ray : An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest.

An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body. Bone scan : A procedure to check if there are rapidly dividing cells , such as cancer cells, in the bone. A very small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream.

The radioactive material collects in the bones with cancer and is detected by a scanner. Sentinel lymph node biopsy : The removal of the sentinel lymph node during surgery.

The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node in a group of lymph nodes to receive lymphatic drainage from the primary tumor. It is the first lymph node the cancer is likely to spread to from the primary tumor. The substance or dye flows through the lymph ducts to the lymph nodes. The first lymph node to receive the substance or dye is removed. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

If cancer cells are not found, it may not be necessary to remove more lymph nodes. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas. Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.

The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body. The cancer gets into the lymph system, travels through the lymph vessels, and forms a tumor metastatic tumor in another part of the body.

The cancer gets into the blood, travels through the blood vessels, and forms a tumor metastatic tumor in another part of the body. Stage I: In stage I papillary and follicular thyroid cancer , the tumor is any size and may have spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

Enlarge Stage I papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients younger than 55 years. The tumor is any size and cancer may have spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Stage II: In stage II papillary and follicular thyroid cancer , the tumor is any size and cancer may have spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes.

Cancer has spread from the thyroid to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or bones. Enlarge Stage II papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients younger than 55 years. Stage I: In stage I papillary and follicular thyroid cancer , cancer is found in the thyroid only and the tumor is 4 centimeters or smaller.

Enlarge Stage I papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients 55 years and older. Cancer is found in the thyroid only and the tumor is 4 centimeters or smaller. Stage II: In stage II papillary and follicular thyroid cancer , one of the following is found: cancer is found in the thyroid and the tumor is 4 centimeters or smaller; cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes ; or cancer is found in the thyroid, the tumor is larger than 4 centimeters, and cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes; or the tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to nearby muscles in the neck and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

In stage IVA, the tumor is any size and cancer has spread to tissue in front of the spine or has surrounded the carotid artery or the blood vessels in the area between the lungs. Cancer may have spread to lymph nodes. Enlarge Stage IVA papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients 55 years and older. The tumor is any size and cancer has a spread to tissue in front of the spine; or b surrounded the carotid artery; or c surrounded the blood vessels in the area between the lungs.

In stage IVB, the tumor is any size and cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or bones. Enlarge Stage IVB papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in patients 55 years and older. The tumor is any size and cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or bones.

In stage IVA , cancer is found in the thyroid only and the tumor may be any size. Enlarge Stage IVA anaplastic thyroid cancer. Cancer is found in the thyroid only and the tumor may be any size. In stage IVB , one of the following is found: cancer is found in the thyroid and the tumor may be any size; cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes ; or Enlarge Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer 1.

Cancer is found in the thyroid and the tumor may be any size. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to nearby muscles in the neck. Cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Enlarge Stage IVB anaplastic thyroid cancer 3. The tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to soft tissue under the skin, the esophagus, the trachea, the larynx, the recurrent laryngeal nerve a nerve that goes to the larynx , or tissue in front of the spine; or cancer has surrounded the carotid artery or the blood vessels in the area between the lungs.

Stage I: In stage I medullary thyroid cancer , cancer is found in the thyroid only and the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller.

Enlarge Stage I medullary thyroid cancer. Cancer is found in the thyroid only and the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Stage II: In stage II medullary thyroid cancer , one of the following is found: cancer is in the thyroid only and the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters ; or the tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to nearby muscles in the neck.

In stage IVA, either of the following is found: the tumor is any size and cancer has spread from the thyroid to soft tissue under the skin, the esophagus , the trachea , the larynx , or the recurrent laryngeal nerve a nerve that goes to the larynx ; cancer may have spread to lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck; or the tumor is any size and cancer may have spread from the thyroid to nearby muscles in the neck; cancer has spread to lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck.

Key Points There are different types of treatment for patients with thyroid cancer. Six types of standard treatment are used: Surgery Radiation therapy, including radioactive iodine therapy Chemotherapy Thyroid hormone therapy Targeted therapy Watchful waiting New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. Immunotherapy Treatment for thyroid cancer may cause side effects.

Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment. Follow-up tests may be needed.

Lobectomy : Removal of the lobe in which thyroid cancer is found. Lymph nodes near the cancer may also be removed and checked under a microscope for signs of cancer. Near-total thyroidectomy : Removal of all but a very small part of the thyroid. Total thyroidectomy: Removal of the whole thyroid. Tracheostomy : Surgery to create an opening stoma into the windpipe to help you breathe. The opening itself may also be called a tracheostomy.

External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the area of the body with cancer. Sometimes the radiation is aimed directly at the tumor during surgery. This is called intraoperative radiation therapy. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds , wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy blocks signals needed for tumors to grow. Sorafenib , lenvatinib , vandetanib , cabozantinib , selpercatinib , larotrectinib , and entrectinib are used to treat certain types of thyroid cancer.

New types of tyrosine kinase inhibitors are being studied to treat advanced thyroid cancer. Protein kinase inhibitor.

Protein kinase inhibitor therapy blocks proteins needed for cell growth and may kill cancer cells. Dabrafenib and trametinib are used to treat anaplastic thyroid cancer in patients with a certain mutation in the BRAF gene. Treatment of stage I younger than 55 years ; 55 years and older , stage II younger than 55 years ; 55 years and older , and stage III papillary and follicular thyroid cancer may include the following: Surgery thyroidectomy or lobectomy.

Radioactive iodine therapy. Hormone therapy to prevent the body from making thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH. External radiation therapy. Treatment of stage IV papillary and follicular thyroid cancer may include the following: For tumors that take up iodine Total thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy.

Targeted therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib or lenvatinib. Surgery to remove cancer from areas where it has spread. External-beam radiation therapy. A clinical trial of chemotherapy. A clinical trial of a targeted therapy. A clinical trial of immunotherapy. Treatment of recurrent papillary and follicular thyroid cancer may include the following: Surgery to remove the tumor with or without radioactive iodine therapy.

Radioactive iodine therapy when the cancer can be found only by a thyroid scan and cannot be felt during a physical exam. Targeted therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib , lenvatinib , selpercatinib , larotrectinib , or entrectinib. External radiation therapy or intraoperative radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Treatment of localized medullary thyroid cancer may include the following: Total thyroidectomy if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Lymph nodes near the cancer are also removed. External radiation therapy for patients whose cancer has recurred in the thyroid. Targeted therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor vandetanib , cabozantinib , or selpercatinib for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer may include the following: Total thyroidectomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer is in or near the thyroid.

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You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest about cancer news, research, and care. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in your thyroid undergo genetic changes mutations. The mutations allow the cells to grow and multiply rapidly.

The cells also lose the ability to die, as normal cells would. The accumulating abnormal thyroid cells form a tumor. The abnormal cells can invade nearby tissue and can spread metastasize to other parts of the body.

Thyroid cancer is classified into types based on the kinds of cells found in the tumor. Your type is determined when a sample of tissue from your cancer is examined under a microscope. The type of thyroid cancer is considered in determining your treatment and prognosis. Despite treatment, thyroid cancer can return, even if you've had your thyroid removed. This could happen if microscopic cancer cells spread beyond the thyroid before it's removed. Thyroid cancer that recurs can be treated. Your doctor may recommend periodic blood tests or thyroid scans to check for signs of a thyroid cancer recurrence.

Doctors aren't sure what causes most cases of thyroid cancer, so there's no way to prevent thyroid cancer in people who have an average risk of the disease. Adults and children with an inherited gene mutation that increases the risk of medullary thyroid cancer may consider thyroid surgery to prevent cancer prophylactic thyroidectomy. Discuss your options with a genetic counselor who can explain your risk of thyroid cancer and your treatment options. A medication that blocks the effects of radiation on the thyroid is sometimes provided to people living near nuclear power plants.

The medication potassium iodide could be used in the unlikely event of a nuclear reactor accident. If you live within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant and are concerned about safety precautions, contact your state or local emergency management department for more information.

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