Thyroid cancer - papillary carcinoma

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Endocrine glands	Thyroid cancer - CT scan	Thyroid cancer - CT scan	Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan
Thyroid gland

Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

There are three types of  thyroid cancer treatment:

• Surgery
• Radioactive iodine
• Medication

Surgery is done to remove as much of the cancer as possible. The bigger the lump, the more of the thyroid gland must be removed. Frequently, the entire gland is taken out.

After the surgery, most (but not all) patients receive radioactive iodine, which is usually taken by mouth. This substance kills any remaining thyroid tissue. It also helps make medical images more clear, so doctors can see if there is any additional cancer.

If surgery is not an option, external radiation therapy can be useful.

After surgery, the patient will need to take medication called levothyroxine sodium for the rest of their life. This replaces the hormone that they thyroid would normally make.

The patient will need a blood test every 3 to 6 months to check thyroid levels, and an imaging test called a radioactive iodine (I-131) uptake scan  once a year.

The survival rate for papillary thyroid cancer is excellent. More than 95% of adults with such cancer survive 10 years. The prognosis is better for patients younger than 40 and for those with smaller tumors.

The following factors may decrease the survival rate:

• Large tumor
• Age over 40
• Cancer has spread to soft tissue
• Cancer has spread to distant parts of the body

Complications include:

• Accidental removal of the parathyroid gland, which helps regulate blood calcium levels
• Damage to a nerve that controls the vocal cords
• Spreading of cancer to lymph nodes (rare)
• Spreading of cancer to other sites (metastasis)

Call your health care provider if you have a lump in your neck. 

Review Date: 02/07/2006
Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of HematologicMalignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at JohnsHopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.