Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Also known as: differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

What is differentiated thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is cancer that impacts the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck. The most common types of thyroid cancers are known as differentiated thyroid cancers.

What causes differentiated thyroid cancer?

The cause of differentiated thyroid cancer is unclear. There are however some risk factors that increase the risk of thyroid cancer such as radiation exposure, certain genetic syndromes, and possibly autoimmune thyroid disease.

What are the symptoms of differentiated thyroid cancer?

Trouble swallowing, neck and throat pain, hoarseness, swelling or a visible lump in the neck are all possible signs of differentiated thyroid cancer.

What are differentiated thyroid cancer care options?

Treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer usually begins with surgery.

Depending on the clinical and pathologic features, patients may also require radiation (in the form of radioactive iodine), hormone therapy, or chemotherapy. Some combination of these treatments may be needed to rid the body of thyroid cancer.


Reviewed by: Joshua W Tarkoff, MD

This page was last updated on: April 11, 2022 03:21 PM

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