Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- PART I General concepts in oncology
- Part II Primary tumors
- 17 Lung cancer
- 18 Breast cancer
- 19 Colorectal cancer
- 20 Prostate cancer
- 21 Pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer
- 22 Anal cancer
- 23 Esophageal and gastric cancer
- 24 Head and neck cancer
- 25 Kidney cancer
- 26 Bladder cancer
- 27 Ovarian cancer
- 28 Gynecologic malignancies: endometrial and cervical carcinoma
- 29 Testicular cancer
- 30 Unknown primary site cancer
- 31 Mesothelioma
- 32 Adult soft tissue sarcoma
- 33 Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma
- 34 Melanoma
- 35 Primary brain tumors
- 36 Thyroid and adrenal cancer
- 37 HIV-related cancer
- 38 Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- 39 Leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative disorder
- 40 Multiple myeloma
- Part III Management of specific symptoms and syndromes
- Index
- References
36 - Thyroid and adrenal cancer
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- PART I General concepts in oncology
- Part II Primary tumors
- 17 Lung cancer
- 18 Breast cancer
- 19 Colorectal cancer
- 20 Prostate cancer
- 21 Pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer
- 22 Anal cancer
- 23 Esophageal and gastric cancer
- 24 Head and neck cancer
- 25 Kidney cancer
- 26 Bladder cancer
- 27 Ovarian cancer
- 28 Gynecologic malignancies: endometrial and cervical carcinoma
- 29 Testicular cancer
- 30 Unknown primary site cancer
- 31 Mesothelioma
- 32 Adult soft tissue sarcoma
- 33 Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma
- 34 Melanoma
- 35 Primary brain tumors
- 36 Thyroid and adrenal cancer
- 37 HIV-related cancer
- 38 Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- 39 Leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative disorder
- 40 Multiple myeloma
- Part III Management of specific symptoms and syndromes
- Index
- References
Summary
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a heterogenous group of diseases that accounts for most of endocrine cancer-related deaths. It is the most common endocrine malignancy; however its relative incidence and death rate compared with other cancers is low, representing only 1% of all cancers and only 0.05% of all cancer-related deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that 18 400 new cases of thyroid cancer will occur in the United States in 2000; 13 700 in women and 4700 in men. An estimated 1200 deaths related to thyroid cancer occurred in 2000; 700 in women and 500 in men. The median age at diagnosis is 45 to 50 years but it does occur in the very young as well as in the elderly. The cause of thyroid cancer is not known but childhood exposure to radiation and iodine deficiency have been identified as risk factors.
The various types of thyroid cancers have different pathologic features, disease courses, and patterns of recurrence. Thyroid cancers are commonly categorized as well-differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary and follicular), medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Less common are thyroid lymphoma and metastatic disease to the thyroid.
Well-differentiated thyroid cancers
Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are well-differentiated malignant neoplasms that arise from follicular cells. In general, they are considered indolent malignancies with favorable long-term survival rates; however, certain patient subsets such as elderly patients with advanced disease may experience rapid tumor progression.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Handbook of Advanced Cancer Care , pp. 294 - 299Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003