Thyroid Cancer

As with many other tissues in the body, cells within the thyroid may become malignant and give rise to thyroid cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that 37, 200 new cases of thyroid cancer were diagnosed in 2009, and that there were 1,630 deaths from thyroid cancer in the same time period. The two most common types of thyroid cancer are papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma, which comprise about 80% and 10% of thyroid cancers, respectively.  Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and Hürthle cell carcinoma, a subtype of follicular carcinoma, account for about 5% and 4% of thyroid cancers.

The thyroid is a gland that plays an important role in regulating metabolism through the production of thyroid hormone. Two types of cells, thyroid follicular cells and parafollicular cells, are the main components of thyroid tissue.

A diet low in iodine, exposure to radiation (medical and fallout from nuclear accidents or nuclear weapons), and some hereditary conditions can increase a person’s risk of developing thyroid cancer. About 20% of all MTCs are due to inheritance of an abnormal gene, while the genetic basis of other thyroid cancers that appear to run in some families has not yet been determined. Unlike many other adult cancers, about 66% of thyroid cancers are diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 55.

Current treatments for thyroid cancer include surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, thyroid hormone therapy, external beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy.  These different modalities are often used in combination and may result in a cure.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s “Detailed Guide: Thyroid Cancer”

Related Clinical Trials