Causes of Thyroid Cancer

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Regarding the causes of thyroid cancer, they are similar to most malignant tumors. The etiology of thyroid cancer is currently unclear, but some factors have been found to be associated with the onset of thyroid cancer. The first factor is neck radiation; the thyroid is an endocrine organ that is sensitive to radiation, so radiation exposure may cause carcinogenic changes in thyroid cancer cells. The second factor is genetics; some thyroid cancers have a clear genetic predisposition, the most typical being medullary thyroid cancer, with about 25% of patients showing familial clustering, known as familial medullary thyroid cancer. The third factor is that the rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer also has some reasons, with one recognized reason being advancements in early diagnostic methods, allowing for the easy detection of numerous early lesions. The fourth is iodine intake, which has been shown to be related to some benign diseases of the thyroid, but its relationship with thyroid cancer itself needs further study.

Other Voices

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Is there an abnormality in the routine blood test for thyroid cancer?

If you have thyroid cancer, it is advised that patients promptly visit a formal hospital for examination. If one undergoes a routine blood test, generally there will be no abnormalities. This test can reveal the number of platelets, the presence of anemia, or the state of white blood cells, which are not related to the thyroid. Therefore, if thyroid cancer patients undergo routine blood tests, typically no abnormalities will be found. In daily life, patients should ensure they rest sufficiently, engage in less physically demanding exercise, maintain a cheerful mood, plan their three meals a day wisely, and pay attention to nutritious diet planning.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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How is thyroid cancer caused?

The causes of thyroid cancer are similar to those of most other malignancies. The etiology of thyroid cancer is not yet clear, but some factors are found to be associated with its occurrence: The first is neck radiation. The thyroid is an endocrine organ, sensitive to radiation. Radiation exposure can potentially cause thyroid cells to become cancerous, especially in those who received high doses of neck radiation in childhood and are more susceptible to thyroid cancer. The second factor is genetics; some thyroid cancers have a clear genetic predisposition, the most typical being medullary thyroid cancer. The third point is that the rapid increase in the incidence rate of thyroid cancer is partly due to the advancement in early diagnostic techniques, allowing for the detection of many early-stage lesions. Of course, iodine intake has already been shown to be related to some benign thyroid conditions. However, its relationship with thyroid cancer requires further study.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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How to treat differentiated thyroid cancer

The so-called differentiated thyroid cancers include two types: papillary and follicular thyroid cancers. Their treatment methods consist of the following: First, surgical treatment is a primary treatment strategy for early-stage differentiated thyroid cancers, involving radical surgical removal. After surgery, some patients need to take medications to supplement thyroid hormones. Secondly, for patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancers, the main comprehensive treatment measures include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Additionally, postoperative early-stage patients can also undergo treatment with Iodine-131 to monitor changes in the condition and provide internal radiation treatment to control the progression of the disease. Internal radiation treatment can be performed multiple times.

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Written by Zhang Li
Endocrinology
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The Differences between Thyroiditis, Hyperthyroidism, and Thyroid Cancer

Thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer are clinically distinct conditions. Thyroiditis refers to inflammatory changes in the thyroid, either autoimmunity-related, suppurative or due to inflammation. Hyperthyroidism broadly refers to a functional change, which can result from various thyroid changes caused by diseases, including external damage and inflammation, leading to symptoms of hyperthyroidism. However, these manifestations should not be confused with each other, with the latter more closely related to autoimmune thyroiditis. Thyroid cancer, on the other hand, is a malignant alteration that also occurs in the thyroid gland but is not closely related to thyroiditis or hyperthyroidism. Generally, thyroid cancer is malignant, while thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism are benign, chronic conditions.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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What are the early symptoms of thyroid cancer?

The most common clinical symptom of thyroid cancer in its early stages is an abnormal lump in the neck. Additionally, some patients may experience symptoms related to abnormal thyroid function. Thyroid cancer is currently a malignant tumor with a relatively high incidence rate globally and in China. There are four pathological types of thyroid cancer: papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma. Among these, papillary carcinoma is the most common and has the best prognosis. For patients presenting with an abnormal neck lump and thyroid function abnormalities, the diagnosis of thyroid cancer should be considered. Diagnosis can be confirmed through tissue obtained by biopsy or surgical excision for pathological examination. For patients with confirmed diagnoses of thyroid cancer, surgery is the preferred treatment method.