Thyroid Cancer Flashcards
def
cancer in the thyroid (lol)
what are the four main types of thyroid cancer
1 papillary (most common)
2 follicular
3 medullary
4 lymphoma
aetiology of papillary thyroid carcinomas
commonly BRAF mutations
aetiology of follicular thyroid carcinomas
commonly due to a chromosomal translocation which fuses two genes together forming an oncogene
aetiology of medullary thyroid cancer
commonly due to mutations in the RET proto-oncogene
these mutations characterize MEN IIA + IIB
epi
most common endocrinological malignancy
women>men
middle age
risk factors
radiation to the head or neck
female
what are the features of papillary thyroid carcinoma
younger patients
spread to lymph nodes + lung
what are features of follicular thyroid carcinoma
middle age
spreads early via blood to bones and lungs
history + examination
palpable thyroid nodule is the most common sign
patients may complain of hoarseness (compression of laryngeal nerve), dyspnoea, dysphagia
examination may reveal lymphadenopathy, tracheal deviation
investigations
1 bloods
-raised calcitonin (high in medullary thyroid carcinoma)
-normal T3/T4
2 thyroid scan and uptake
-hot nodule - hyperfunctioning - benign
-cold nodule - hypofunctioning - benign or malignant
a 40y/o woman is found to have a thyroid nodule O/E. The nodule is firm and mobile.
thyroid cancer
