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Year Two - Endocrine System > Thyroid Cancer > Flashcards

Thyroid Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

What is thyroid cancer?

A

It is defined as the proliferation of malignant cells in the thyroid gland

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2
Q

What is the most common endocrine malignancy?

A

Thyroid cancer

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3
Q

What are the four classifications of thyroid cancer?

A

Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Follicular Thyroid Cancer

Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

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4
Q

What is the most common classification of thyroid cancer?

A

Papillary thyroid cancer

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5
Q

What is papillary thyroid cancer?

A

It is defined as the proliferation of a papillary thyroid cells

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6
Q

Which patient group is most commonly affected by papillary thyroid cancer?

A

Young women < 40

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7
Q

What metastasis is associated with papillary thyroid cancer?

A

Cervical lymph nodes

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8
Q

What prognosis is associated with papillary thyroid cancer?

A

Excellent prognosis

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9
Q

What is the second most common classification of thyroid cancer?

A

Follicular thyroid cancer

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10
Q

What is follicular thyroid cancer?

A

It is defined as the proliferation of follicular thyroid cells

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11
Q

Which patient group tend to be affected by follicular thyroid gland?

A

Middle-aged women

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12
Q

What metastasis is associated with follicular thyroid cancer?

A

Local vasculature

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13
Q

What is the third most common classification of thyroid cancer?

A

Medullary thyroid cancer

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14
Q

What is medullary thyroid cancer?

A

It is defined as the proliferation of parafollicular thyroid cells

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15
Q

What patient group tend to be affected by medullary thyroid cancer?

A

Those with a strong family history of thryoid disease

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16
Q

What is a specific feature of medullary thyroid cancer? Explain

A

Increased serum calcitonin levels

Parafollicular thyroid cells secrete calcitonin

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17
Q

What metastasis is associated with medullary thyroid cancer?

A

Lymphatic spread

Haematogenous spread

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18
Q

What prognosis is associated with medullary thyroid cancer?

A

Poor prognosis

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19
Q

What condition is medullary thyroid cancer associated with? What does this result in?

A

MEN-2 syndrome

This means that medullary thyroid cancer present with additional clincial features associated with parathyroid tumours and phaechromocytomas

20
Q

What is MEN-2 syndrome?

A

It is a genetic condition associated with three primary endocrine tumours; medullary thyroid cancer, parathyroid cancer and phaeochromocytoma

21
Q

What is the fourth most common classification of thyroid cancer?

A

Anaplastic thyroid cancer

22
Q

What is anaplastic thyroid cancer?

A

It is defined as the proliferation of undifferentiated thyroid cells

23
Q

Which patient group tends to be affected by anaplastic thyroid cancer?

A

Elderly women > 60

24
Q

What metastasis is associated with anaplastic thyroid cancer?

A

Local & Aggressive

25
Q

What prognosis is associated with anaplastic thyroid cancer?

A

Worst prognosis

26
Q

What are the eight risk factors associated with thyroid cancer?

A

Young Age < 30 Years Old

Older Age > 60 Years Old

Female Gender

Family History

Obesity

Thyroiditis

Acromegaly

Head & Neck Radiation

27
Q

Which two genetic conditions are associated with thyroid cancer?

A

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

Cowden’s syndrome

28
Q

What five clincial features are associated with thyroid cancer?

A

Painless Neck Lump

Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Voice Hoarseness

Dysphagia

Weight Loss

29
Q

What are the two characteristic features of neck lumps associated with thyroid cancer?

A

They move on swallowing

They don’t move on tongue protrusion

30
Q

What are the three investigations used to diagnose thyroid cancer?

A

Blood Tests

Ultrasound Scan

Thyroid Biopsy

31
Q

What four blood test results indicate thyroid cancer?

A

Normal T3 Levels

Normal T4 Levels

Normal TSH Levels

Increased Calcitonin Levels

32
Q

What thyroid cancer is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis associated with?

A

Thyroid lymphoma

33
Q

When are ultrasound scans used to investigate thyroid cancer?

A

They are recommended following normal thyroid function test results

34
Q

How are ultrasound scans used to investigate thyroid cancer?

A

They are used to confirm a diagnosis of thyroid cancer

35
Q

What is the gold standard investigation used to diagnose thyroid cancer?

A

Thyroid Biopsy

36
Q

How are thyroid biopsies used to investigate thyroid cancer?

A

They are used to used to confirm a diagnosis of thyroid cancer

In addition, it can be used to identify the classification of thyroid cancer

37
Q

What is the radiotherapy management option of thyroid cancer?

A

Radioiodine Therapy

38
Q

When is radioiodine therapy used to manage thyroid cancer?

A

It is the second line management option used to treat papillary, follicular and medullary thyroid cancer

It is conducted following total thyroidectomy, in order to ensure removal of residual cells

39
Q

What is radioiodine therapy?

A

It It involves consumption of radioactive iodine, which is then absorbed by the thyroid gland

This absorption results in radiation emission, and therefore destruction of thyroid cells

40
Q

What is the surgical management option of thryoid cancer?

A

Total Thyroidectomy

41
Q

When is total thyroidectomy used to manage thyroid cancer?

A

It is the first line management option used to treat papillary, follicular and medullary thyroid cancer

42
Q

What is total thyroidectomy?

A

It involves removal of the entire thyroid gland

43
Q

What pharmacological management option is recommended following total thyroidectomy?

A

Lifelong levothyroxine

44
Q

How do we monitor thyroid cancer, following successful treatment?

A

Annual thyroglobulin

45
Q

When is palliative management used to manage thyroid cancer?

A

It is used to treat anaplastic thyroid cancer

Year Two - Endocrine System (17 decks)

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