Thyroid Cancer (Papillary, Follicular, Medullary & Anaplastic) | Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Summary

This lesson delves into thyroid cancer, detailing its four main types: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. It explores the hormonal functions of the thyroid gland, risk factors like radiation exposure and genetic conditions, and the varying ages of onset. The presentation covers symptoms, diagnosis methods including fine needle aspiration biopsy, and staging according to the AJCC TNM system. Treatment options range from surgery and radioiodine ablation to chemotherapy, with a focus on individualized approaches based on cancer type.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Thyroid cancer originates from the thyroid gland, an endocrine gland in the neck, which produces hormones that regulate metabolism.
• 🔍 There are four main types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary (MTC), and anaplastic, with papillary being the most common.
• 👩‍⚕️ Thyroid cancer is more prevalent in females, with a 3:1 female-to-male ratio, and typically appears in the third and fourth decades of life.
• 🧬 Specific genetic mutations are associated with different types of thyroid cancer, such as BRAF V600E for papillary and RET for medullary thyroid carcinoma.
• ☢️ Radiation exposure is a significant risk factor for thyroid cancer, especially for papillary carcinoma.
• 🔎 A thyroid nodule is the most common sign of thyroid cancer, but many nodules are benign; characteristics like painless, hard, and fixed nodules suggest cancer.
• 🩺 Diagnosis of thyroid cancer involves a physical examination, blood tests for thyroid hormones and calcitonin, and imaging studies like ultrasonography.
• 💉 Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a critical diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer, and genetic testing can identify specific mutations associated with cancer.
• 🏥 Treatment options for thyroid cancer include surgical excision, radioiodine ablation, hormone suppression therapy, and in some cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• 📊 Cancer staging for thyroid cancer follows the TNM classification system, with anaplastic carcinoma automatically classified as stage four due to its aggressive nature.

Q & A

What is the primary function of the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is responsible for making thyroid hormones like T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), which are responsible for movement, mentation, and metabolism.

How common is thyroid cancer in relation to all cancers?

Thyroid cancer accounts for approximately one percent of all cancers.

What is the ratio of thyroid cancer incidence between females and males?

There is a higher incidence of thyroid cancer in females versus males, with females outnumbering males three to one.

What are the four main types of thyroid cancer?

The four main types of thyroid cancer are papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), and anaplastic carcinoma.

Which is the most common type of thyroid cancer?

Papillary carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for about 80% of all cases.

What are the two less common types of thyroid cancer mentioned in the script?

The two less common types of thyroid cancer are primary thyroid lymphoma and primary thyroid sarcoma.

What is the significance of the BRAF V600E mutation in thyroid cancer?

The BRAF V600E mutation is the most common type of mutation that can cause or increase the risk of papillary carcinoma.

What are the risk factors for developing thyroid cancer?

Risk factors for thyroid cancer include radiation exposure, family history, genetic conditions like MEN2A and MEN2B, being female, and age, with certain types of thyroid cancer peaking in the third and fourth decades of life and others like anaplastic carcinoma occurring in older patients.

What is the most important sign of thyroid cancer?

The most important sign of thyroid cancer is a thyroid nodule, which is a growth off of the thyroid gland that may be felt or seen protruding from the neck.

How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

Thyroid cancer is diagnosed through a combination of head and neck examination, blood work, fine needle aspiration biopsy of the nodule, and sometimes imaging studies like thyroid ultrasonography, CT, or MRI.

What is the staging system used for most types of thyroid cancer?

The staging system used for papillary, follicular, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is from the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and uses the TNM classification system, which considers the size and extent of the primary tumor (T), the presence and extent of lymph node involvement (N), and the presence of distant metastasis (M).

What are the treatment options for papillary and follicular thyroid cancer?

Treatment options for papillary and follicular thyroid cancer include surgical excision, which may be subtotal or total thyrectomy, radioiodine ablation, thyroid hormone suppression therapy, and in advanced or refractory cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.