Thyroid cancer

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Endocrine glands

Thyroid cancer - CT scan

Thyroid cancer - CT scan

Thyroid gland

Tumor - thyroid; Cancer - thyroid

• Cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Enlargement of the thyroid gland
• Hoarseness or changing voice
• Neck swelling
• Thyroid lump (nodule)

Note: Symptoms may vary depending on the type of thyroid cancer

A physical examination can reveal a thyroid mass or nodule (usually in the lower part of the front of the neck), or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Tests for thyroid cancer:

• Elevated serum calcitonin (for medullary cancer) or serum thyroglobulin (for papillary or follicular cancer)
• Laryngoscopy showing paralyzed vocal cords
• Thyroid biopsy showing anaplastic, follicular, medullary, or papillary cancer cells
• Thyroid scan showing a nodule that does not light up on the scan (cold nodule)
• Ultrasound of the thyroid showing a nodule

This disease may also affect the results of the following thyroid function tests:

• T3
• T4
• TSH

Review Date: 03/02/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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