Thyroid cancer
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

Signs and symptoms include a neck lump or swelling, neck pain, hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea, and/or persistent cough. Erythroderma may rarely be a cutaneous manifestation of malignancy.
Thyroid cancer is classified based on histologic features:
- Papillary thyroid cancer – The most common type of thyroid cancer (approximately 85% of cases), often with diagnosis at an early stage with good overall prognosis. Characteristic histologic findings include psammoma bodies, cleaved nuclei with an "Orphan Annie" appearance, and the formation of papillary structures. Of note, it is now suggested that the encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, which has a very low risk of adverse outcome, be reclassified as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features.
- Follicular thyroid cancer – The most common type of thyroid cancer in iodine-deficient regions of the world. It is often difficult to diagnose with fine-needle aspiration due to a lack of distinguishing features. Prognosis is poor if diagnosis is made at an advanced stage of disease.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer – A poorly differentiated and aggressive form of thyroid cancer. Most patients die within 6 months of diagnosis.
- Medullary thyroid cancer – This can either be sporadic or familial as part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A), type 2B (MEN2B), or medullary thyroid cancer without other features of MEN. Surgical resection is the preferred method of treatment, with elevated calcitonin levels post-surgery indicating residual disease.
Codes
ICD10CM:C73 – Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland
SNOMEDCT:
363478007 – Malignant tumor of thyroid gland
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Colloid cyst
- Simple thyroid cyst
- Metastatic disease
- Benign adenoma
- Toxic nodular goiter
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:06/13/2018
Last Updated:07/11/2018
Last Updated:07/11/2018