Thyroid cancer

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Thyroid cancer

Alternative Names

Tumor - thyroid; Cancer - thyroid

Symptoms

Cough or cough with bleeding
Difficulty swallowing
Enlargement of the thyroid gland
Hoarseness or changing voice
Neck swelling
Thyroid lump (nodule)

Note: Symptoms may vary depending on the type of thyroid cancer

Exams and Tests

A physical examination can reveal a thyroid mass or nodule (usually in the lower part of the front of the neck), or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Tests for thyroid cancer:

Elevated serum calcitonin (for medullary cancer) or serum thyroglobulin (for papillary or follicular cancer)
Laryngoscopy showing paralyzed vocal cords
Thyroid biopsy showing anaplastic, follicular, medullary, or papillary cancer cells
Thyroid scan showing a nodule that does not light up on the scan (cold nodule)
Ultrasound of the thyroid showing a nodule

This disease may also affect the results of the following tests:

References

Sherman SI, Angelos P, Ball DW, Byrd D, Clark OH, Daniels GH, et al. Thyroid carcinoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2007;5:568-621.

Sampson E, Brierley JD, Le LW, Rotstein L, Tsang RW. Clinical management and outcome of papillary and follicular (differentiated) thyroid cancer presenting with distant metastasis at diagnosis. Cancer. 2007;110:1451-1456.

Tuttle RM, Leboeuf R, Martorella AJ. Papillary thyroid cancer: monitoring and therapy. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2007;36:753-758.


Endocrine glands


Thyroid cancer - CT scan


Thyroid cancer - CT scan


Thyroid gland

Review Date: 3/24/2008
Reviewed By: Stephen Grund, MD, PhD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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