Thyroid Carcinomas
Various types of thyroid carcinomas affect patients.
| Type of Cancer | Incidence |
| Papillary | 65-70% |
| Follicular | 15-20% |
| Medullary | 5-10% |
| Anaplastic | 1-2% |
Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Carcinomas
Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas are categorized as well-differentiated thyroid cancer and account for 80–90% of all thyroid cancers, with papillary being the most predominant. These types of thyroid cancer tend to be slow growing and when diagnosed early (a majority of cases) have a high cure rate. More aggressive variants of well-differentiated thyroid cancer include tall cell, schirrous, insular, Hurthle cell, etc. Their treatment and management are similar, despite the fact that they tend to be more aggressive. The risk group categories are described in the table and help us determine how aggressively the tumor needs to be treated and if radioactive iodine or other adjunctive measures need to be taken.
| Risk Factors | ||||
| Low | Intermediate | Intermediate | High | |
| Age | <45 | <45 | >45 | >45 |
| Distant Metastases | None | Yes | None | Yes |
| Tumor Size | <4cm | >4cm | <4cm | >4cm |
| Histology | Papillary | Follicular or High Grade | Papillary | Follicular or High Grade |
| 5 Year Survival Rate (%) | 100 | 96 | 96 | 72 |
| 20 Year Survival Rate (%) | 99 | 85 | 85 | 57 |
Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a relatively uncommon form of thyroid cancer. When diagnosed early (before it has spread), the cure rates can be high. Once diagnosed the patient must undergo the necessary testing ASAP so that you may begin treatment (surgery) right away. MTC can run in families in 20% of cases. So genetic testing (of the RET proto-oncogene) should be done on all patients with MTC to check to see whether they have the familial form, in which case their family members must also be checked to see if they carry the gene. The familial forms of MTC are often times associated with other types of tumors (MEN 2A & 2B) and hormonal problems that need to be accurately diagnosed before treatment is started.
| MEN | Syndromes | ||
| MEN 2A | MTC | Pheochromocytoma | Hyperparathyroidism |
| MEN 2B | MTC | Pheochromocytoma | Mucosal Neuromas Marfanoid Habitus |
Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is, fortunately, the least common type of thyroid cancer. This is a very aggressive cancer that rapidly grows and spreads. In most cases the tumor has already spread and is involving the adjacent organs making it very difficult to control and treat.
Schedule a Thyroid Carcinoma Consultation
To learn more about thyroid carcinomas, contact our Beverly Hills practice, serving Los Angeles and all of Southern California. Call 310.461.0300!
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH
Schedule Your Consult with Dr. Larian Now
Next, read about minimally invasive thyroidectomy.
