People who have had radiation therapy to the neck are at higher risk. Radiation therapy was commonly used in the 1950s to treat enlarged thymus glands, adenoids and tonsils, and skin disorders. People who received radiation therapy as children are at increased risk for getting thyroid cancer.
Other risk factors are a family history of thyroid cancer and chronic goiter.
There are several types of thyroid cancer:
Anaplastic carcinoma (also called giant and spindle cell cancer) is the most dangerous form of thyroid cancer. It is rare, and does not respond to radioiodine therapy. Anaplastic carcinoma spreads quickly and invades nearby structures such as the windpipe (trachea), causing breathing difficulties.
Follicular carcinoma accounts for about 30% of all cases and is more likely to come back and spread.
Medullary carcinoma is a cancer of non-thyroid cells that are normally present in the thyroid gland. This form of the thyroid cancer tends to occur in families. It requires different treatment than other types of thyroid cancer.
Papillary carcinoma is the most common type, and usually affects women of childbearing age. It spreads slowly and is the least dangerous type of thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer - papillary carcinoma (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is the most common cancer of the thyroid gland.Reviewer: Stephen Grund, M.D. Ph.D., Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 03/21/2008
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is cancer of the thyroid gland that starts in cells that release a hormone called calcitonin. Such cells are called"C" cells.Thyroid- medullary carcinoma; Cancer- thyroid(medullary carcinoma); MTC.The cause is un...Reviewer: 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 by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/21/2008
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is an aggressive form of cancer of the thyroid gland.Anaplastic thyroid cancer grows very rapidly and is an invasive type of thyroid cancer. It occurs most often in people over age 60. Reviewer: 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 by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/21/2008
Thyroid excisional biopsy (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in front of the trachea(windpipe) in the neck. In an excisional biopsy, a section of thyroid tissue is removed for diagnostic examination.This procedure is performed in a hospital operating room using gene...Reviewer: Brendan T. Campbell, M.D., MPH, Department of Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 12/22/2004
Parathyroid gland removal (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Parathyroidectomy is surgery to remove parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors. The parathyroid glands are right behind your thyroid gland in your neck. Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/30/2009
Thyroid diseases (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
It produces chemicals(hormones) that help the body control metabolism. Thyroid hormone is also produced in response to another hormone released by the pituitary gland.Hyperthyroidism-- too much thyroid hormone Hypothyroidism-- too little thyroid h...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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