Types of Thyroid Cancers

The main types of thyroid cancer are:

•             Differentiated (including papillary, follicular and Hürthle cell)

•             Medullary

•             Anaplastic (an aggressive cancer)

Differentiated thyroid cancers

Most thyroid cancers are differentiated cancers. The cells in these cancers look a lot like normal thyroid tissue when seen in the lab. These cancers develop from thyroid follicular cells.

Papillary cancer (also called papillary carcinomas or papillary adenocarcinomas): About 8 out of 10 thyroid cancers are papillary cancers. These cancers tend to grow very slowly and usually develop in only one lobe of the thyroid gland. Even though they grow slowly, papillary cancers often spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. Even when these cancers have spread to the lymph nodes, they can often be treated successfully and are rarely fatal.

There are several subtypes of papillary cancers. Of these, the follicular subtype (also called mixed papillary-follicular variant) is most common. It has the same good outlook (prognosis) as the standard type of papillary cancer when found early, and they are treated the same way. Other subtypes of papillary carcinoma (columnar, tall cell, insular, and diffuse sclerosing) are not as common and tend to grow and spread more quickly.

Follicular cancer (also called follicular carcinoma or follicular adenocarcinoma): Follicular cancer is the next most common type, making up about 1 out of 10 thyroid cancers. It is more common in countries where people don’t get enough iodine in their diet. These cancers usually do not spread to lymph nodes, but they can spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or bones. The outlook (prognosis) for follicular cancer is not quite as good as that of papillary cancer, although it is still very good in most cases.

Hürthle (Hurthle) cell cancer (also called oxyphil cell carcinoma): About 3% of thyroid cancers are this type. It is harder to find and to treat.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) accounts for about 4% of thyroid cancers. It develops from the C cells of the thyroid gland, which normally make calcitonin, a hormone that helps control the amount of calcium in blood. Sometimes this cancer can spread to lymph nodes, the lungs, or liver even before a thyroid nodule is discovered.

This type of thyroid cancer is more difficult to find and treat, There are 2 types of MTC:

•             Sporadic MTC, which accounts for about 8 out of 10 cases of MTC, is not inherited (meaning it does not run in families). It occurs mostly in older adults and often affects only one thyroid lobe.

•             Familial MTC is inherited and 20% to 25% can occur in each generation of a family. These cancers often develop during childhood or early adulthood and can spread early. Patients usually have cancer in several areas of both lobes. Familial MTC is often linked with an increased risk of other types of tumors. This is described in more detail in Thyroid Cancer Risk Factors.

Anaplastic (undifferentiated) thyroid cancer

Anaplastic carcinoma (also called undifferentiated carcinoma) is a rare form of thyroid cancer, making up about 2% of all thyroid cancers. It is thought to sometimes develop from an existing papillary or follicular cancer. This cancer is called undifferentiated because the cancer cells do not look very much like normal thyroid cells. This cancer often spreads quickly into the neck and to other parts of the body, and is very hard to treat.

Less Common Thyroid Cancers

Less than 4% of cancers found in the thyroid are thyroid lymphomas, thyroid sarcomas, or other rare tumors.

Parathyroid cancer

Behind, but attached to, the thyroid gland are 4 tiny glands called the parathyroids. The parathyroid glands help regulate the body’s calcium levels. Cancers of the parathyroid glands are very rare — there are probably fewer than 100 cases each year in the United States.

Parathyroid cancers are often found because they cause high blood calcium levels. This makes a person tired, weak, and drowsy. It can also make you urinate (pee) a lot, causing dehydration, which can make the weakness and drowsiness worse. Other symptoms include bone pain and fractures, pain from kidney stones, depression, and constipation.

Larger parathyroid cancers may also be found as a nodule near the thyroid. No matter how large the nodule is, the only treatment is to remove it surgically. Parathyroid cancer is much harder to cure than thyroid cancer.

For more kindly go Through: Thyroid Disorders & Therapy

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Regards

Mercy

Managing Editor

Thyroid Disorders & Therapy