What are the early symptoms of thyroid cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on November 02, 2024
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Thyroid cancer is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck area. The early symptoms of thyroid cancer are highly atypical, and many patients do not present clear early symptoms. Often, patients discover painless nodules in the thyroid incidentally during physical examinations; these nodules can move up and down with swallowing motions. In a minority of cases, when the nodules of early-stage thyroid cancer are large, they can cause hoarseness or coughing and choking when drinking water. Some patients might experience intermittent, hidden pain in the thyroid area during the early stages, which often resolves on its own without treatment. Besides these, in its early stages, thyroid cancer may not present other obvious symptoms. As the condition progresses, significant clinical symptoms appear only when the tumor invades surrounding structures or metastasizes to distant sites.

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Written by Gan Jun
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Does hypothyroidism lead to thyroid cancer?

Hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer are two different types of thyroid diseases; hypothyroidism does not cause thyroid cancer, and there is no necessary connection between the two. Hypothyroidism refers to a decrease in thyroid function levels, caused by abnormalities in the secretion and synthesis functions of the thyroid, closely related to disorders of the endocrine system. In contrast, thyroid cancer is a change in tissue nature due to malignant transformation in thyroid tissue cells, it is not related to the thyroid's endocrine functions, and currently, there is no research indicating that hypothyroidism increases the likelihood of developing thyroid cancer. Patients with thyroid diseases should undergo dynamic thyroid ultrasonography and monitoring of thyroid function to further clarify their condition.

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Written by Chen Xie
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What are the clinical manifestations of thyroid cancer?

For patients with thyroid cancer, the most common clinical manifestation is thyroid nodules, and most patients do not have obvious clinical symptoms, only being incidentally discovered during physical examinations. In rare cases, patients may seek medical attention due to enlarged cervical lymph nodes. As the condition progresses, the neck mass gradually enlarges, becomes firmer, and its mobility decreases during swallowing. In some rapid developments, it may invade surrounding tissues, leading to late-stage symptoms such as hoarseness, difficulty breathing, and difficulty swallowing. When the cervical sympathetic nerve is compressed, it can cause pain in the ears, occipital region, and shoulders. In the case of medullary carcinoma, which can produce serotonin and calcitonin, patients may sometimes experience symptoms such as diarrhea, palpitations, facial flushing, or decreased blood calcium levels.

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Written by Gong Chun
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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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Can people with normal thyroid function get thyroid cancer?

Thyroid function and thyroid cancer are not necessarily related. It is possible to have thyroid cancer even when thyroid function is normal. Clinically, thyroid cancer is usually detected by color ultrasound. Clinicians will classify thyroid nodules based on their size, texture, growth direction, presence of blood flow signals, clarity of boundaries, infiltration of surrounding tissues, and enlargement of nearby lymph nodes. Nodules classified as categories one to three generally have a benign tendency, and regular follow-up appointments are sufficient. If the nodules are classified as categories four to five, they are suggestive of malignancy, and it is recommended to perform thyroid fine needle aspiration or surgery to determine the pathological type of the nodules.

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Is thyroid swelling malignancy the same as thyroid cancer?

Thyroid malignancy refers to thyroid cancer, but even malignant thyroid cancer generally has a good prognosis. However, it is crucial to achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. It is advised to promptly visit a thyroid specialty department for comprehensive examinations, including thyroid ultrasound, evaluation of thyroid function, and related thyroid antibodies. A fine needle aspiration biopsy should be conducted for a clear pathological diagnosis, followed by immediate active treatment, primarily surgical. Thyroid cancer includes papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and undifferentiated cancer. The surgery mainly involves minimally invasive and traditional methods. Post-surgery, it is recommended to perform lymph node dissection, assess the extent of metastasis, and decide whether to proceed with Iodine-131 radiotherapy. Due to the loss of thyroid function, proactive thyroid hormone replacement therapy is advised, along with dynamic monitoring of thyroid health through ultrasound and related examinations.