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Thyroid Cancer
What are the early symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck area. The early symptoms of thyroid cancer are highly atypical, and many patients do not present clear early symptoms. Often, patients discover painless nodules in the thyroid incidentally during physical examinations; these nodules can move up and down with swallowing motions. In a minority of cases, when the nodules of early-stage thyroid cancer are large, they can cause hoarseness or coughing and choking when drinking water. Some patients might experience intermittent, hidden pain in the thyroid area during the early stages, which often resolves on its own without treatment. Besides these, in its early stages, thyroid cancer may not present other obvious symptoms. As the condition progresses, significant clinical symptoms appear only when the tumor invades surrounding structures or metastasizes to distant sites.
Early symptoms and manifestations of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck area. Early symptoms and signs primarily include a thyroid mass discovered incidentally during a physical examination. This type of mass grows quickly, leading to localized thyroid enlargement, and patients may experience discomfort when swallowing. Additionally, some thyroid cancer patients, due to abnormal hormone secretion, might experience unexplained skin flushing or sweating symptoms. Besides, early symptoms and manifestations of thyroid cancer are not typical, and many patients do not exhibit obvious symptoms. Instead, abnormalities in thyroid function are often incidentally found during physical examinations.
What discomforts can thyroid cancer cause in the body?
Thyroid cancer is a common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck region. In its early stages, thyroid cancer has little effect on the body, and generally does not cause any discomfort. However, as the disease progresses and the tumor invades outward and metastasizes to distant areas, it can lead to various uncomfortable sensations. For example, if thyroid cancer invades surrounding tissues and organs, such as the recurrent laryngeal nerve, the patient may experience symptoms like a hoarse voice and choking while drinking. If thyroid cancer metastasizes to the cervical lymph nodes, the patient may also develop Horner's syndrome, which is characterized by a constricted pupil, drooping eyelid, and absence of sweating on the affected side of the face. If the patient develops superior vena cava syndrome, it can lead to difficulty breathing, chest pain, and swelling of the face and neck. If thyroid cancer metastasizes to the lungs or other distant areas, the patient may also experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing.
Is a hypoechoic area definitely thyroid cancer?
A thyroid nodule underwent an ultrasound B-examination and showed hypoechoic features, but this does not necessarily indicate thyroid cancer. It is essential to conduct relevant tests to determine the cause. For such thyroid nodules, it is first important to check their specific size. If there is concern about the presence of a malignant tumor, it is advisable to perform a fine needle aspiration for pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis. If the thyroid nodule exceeds one centimeter and causes local pain or affects surrounding blood vessels, leading to symptoms of compression, it is recommended that patients should promptly undergo surgical removal for treatment.
How is thyroid cancer caused?
The causes of thyroid cancer are similar to those of most other malignancies. The etiology of thyroid cancer is not yet clear, but some factors are found to be associated with its occurrence: The first is neck radiation. The thyroid is an endocrine organ, sensitive to radiation. Radiation exposure can potentially cause thyroid cells to become cancerous, especially in those who received high doses of neck radiation in childhood and are more susceptible to thyroid cancer. The second factor is genetics; some thyroid cancers have a clear genetic predisposition, the most typical being medullary thyroid cancer. The third point is that the rapid increase in the incidence rate of thyroid cancer is partly due to the advancement in early diagnostic techniques, allowing for the detection of many early-stage lesions. Of course, iodine intake has already been shown to be related to some benign thyroid conditions. However, its relationship with thyroid cancer requires further study.
Differences between the symptoms of thyroiditis and thyroid cancer
Thyroiditis, if it is acute suppurative thyroiditis, clinical manifestations include fever, local pain in the thyroid, tenderness on palpation, and a hard texture of the thyroid. Examination will show an increase in white blood cells. Subacute thyroiditis may also present with mild fever or high fever and local pain in the thyroid, but compared to suppurative thyroiditis, the increase in white blood cell levels is not as significant in subacute thyroiditis. If it is autoimmune thyroiditis, there may not be obvious symptoms clinically; there may be enlargement of the thyroid, and the thyroid may feel tougher upon palpation. As for thyroid cancer, clinically, if it does not cause hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, there are no specific symptoms. When the cancerous tumor is large, there may be an enlargement of the thyroid, the texture of the enlarged thyroid will be very hard, and there will be notable local adhesions. Of course, the main difference can be detected and diagnosed through an ultrasound examination.
Is thyroid swelling malignancy the same as thyroid cancer?
Thyroid malignancy refers to thyroid cancer, but even malignant thyroid cancer generally has a good prognosis. However, it is crucial to achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. It is advised to promptly visit a thyroid specialty department for comprehensive examinations, including thyroid ultrasound, evaluation of thyroid function, and related thyroid antibodies. A fine needle aspiration biopsy should be conducted for a clear pathological diagnosis, followed by immediate active treatment, primarily surgical. Thyroid cancer includes papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and undifferentiated cancer. The surgery mainly involves minimally invasive and traditional methods. Post-surgery, it is recommended to perform lymph node dissection, assess the extent of metastasis, and decide whether to proceed with Iodine-131 radiotherapy. Due to the loss of thyroid function, proactive thyroid hormone replacement therapy is advised, along with dynamic monitoring of thyroid health through ultrasound and related examinations.
Is there an abnormality in the routine blood test for thyroid cancer?
If you have thyroid cancer, it is advised that patients promptly visit a formal hospital for examination. If one undergoes a routine blood test, generally there will be no abnormalities. This test can reveal the number of platelets, the presence of anemia, or the state of white blood cells, which are not related to the thyroid. Therefore, if thyroid cancer patients undergo routine blood tests, typically no abnormalities will be found. In daily life, patients should ensure they rest sufficiently, engage in less physically demanding exercise, maintain a cheerful mood, plan their three meals a day wisely, and pay attention to nutritious diet planning.
What department should thyroid cancer see?
Firstly, thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the neck area. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with the most professional oncology department for diagnosis and treatment when the disease occurs. If thyroid cancer is operable, surgery can be performed by the head and neck surgery department. After surgical treatment, if radiotherapy and chemotherapy are needed, it is still recommended to see an oncologist for treatment and specific therapies. Thus, different departments may be consulted during different stages of the disease, but the primary recommendation is still to seek treatment from the oncology department.
The Differences between Thyroiditis, Hyperthyroidism, and Thyroid Cancer
Thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer are clinically distinct conditions. Thyroiditis refers to inflammatory changes in the thyroid, either autoimmunity-related, suppurative or due to inflammation. Hyperthyroidism broadly refers to a functional change, which can result from various thyroid changes caused by diseases, including external damage and inflammation, leading to symptoms of hyperthyroidism. However, these manifestations should not be confused with each other, with the latter more closely related to autoimmune thyroiditis. Thyroid cancer, on the other hand, is a malignant alteration that also occurs in the thyroid gland but is not closely related to thyroiditis or hyperthyroidism. Generally, thyroid cancer is malignant, while thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism are benign, chronic conditions.