Thyroid Cancer

Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.

What is Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer originates in the thyroid gland, located in the neck, which regulates metabolism via hormone production. Types include papillary (80%, slow-growing), follicular (10-15%, includes Hurthle cell), medullary (5%, from C-cells, often hereditary), and anaplastic (1-2%, aggressive). In 2025, it’s the fastest-rising cancer in women, with ~43,800 US cases annually, more common in women (3:1), median age 50. Most are curable, but anaplastic is lethal.

Symptoms

Symptoms include a neck lump (often painless), difficulty swallowing or breathing, hoarse voice, neck/throat pain, swollen cervical lymph nodes, and cough. Medullary may cause diarrhea or flushing (calcitonin-related). Anaplastic causes rapid neck swelling, stridor, or weight loss. Early cases are often asymptomatic, detected via ultrasound. Symptoms may mimic goiter or thyroiditis.

Causes

Risk factors include radiation exposure (childhood or medical, 10-20 times risk), family history (5-10% of papillary/follicular), hereditary syndromes (MEN2 for medullary), iodine deficiency (follicular), and female gender. BRAF V600E (papillary) and RET mutations (medullary) are key. In 2025, environmental radiation and obesity are linked, with epigenetics influencing progression.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis uses neck ultrasound for nodules, fine-needle aspiration biopsy for cytology, and blood tests (TSH, calcitonin for medullary). Imaging (CT/MRI/PET) assesses spread. Molecular testing (BRAF, RET) guides therapy. In 2025, AI ultrasound detects 95% of malignant nodules, and liquid biopsies monitor recurrence.

Treatment

Surgery (thyroidectomy, lobectomy) is primary, with lymph node dissection for spread. Radioactive iodine (RAI) treats residual papillary/follicular (80% response). External radiation or chemotherapy (rare) for anaplastic. Targeted therapies (lenvatinib, dabrafenib for BRAF+) and immunotherapy (trials) for advanced cases. In 2025, TSH suppression and minimally invasive surgery reduce complications.

Future Outlook

In 2025, 5-year survival is 98% overall, 99% for papillary, 50% for anaplastic. Targeted therapies improve advanced survival to 2-3 years. By 2030, vaccines and AI could achieve 99% cure for early-stage, with focus on anaplastic therapies.

Sources

Mayo Clinic’s “Thyroid cancer – Symptoms and causes”; Cleveland Clinic’s “Thyroid Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment”; NCI’s “Thyroid Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)”; American Thyroid Association’s “Thyroid Cancer”; PMC’s “Thyroid Cancer: 2025 Advances”.