The thyroid gland belongs to the endocrine system and performs the most important organic functions - it produces the necessary hormonal substances that provide a full-fledged exchange, brain and blood-forming activity.
Thyroid activity is controlled by the pituitary gland. The gland is located in the larynx and can undergo cancer processes, like other organs.
About the disease
Cancer of the thyroid gland is a malignant nodular structure that forms from follicular epithelial cell structures. There are many varieties of thyroid cancer, but it is often possible to detect differences only histologically.
Specialists note that thyroid cancer is a relatively rare pathology. It accounts for only 1.5% of the total incidence of cancer.
Due to this localization, thyroid cancer is detected and recognized at early stages of development, which has a favorable effect on treatment predictions. Code of the disease according to the ICD-C73 classification.
Features of the disease in women
As already explained, women suffer from cancer thyroid three times more often than men.
Most often, women are diagnosed with a papillary oncoform, which is characterized by slow development and flow with rare cases of metastasis.
A similar type of oncology occupies about 75% of cases of thyroid cancer.
Photo of thyroid cancer in a woman
Approximately half of patients develop cancer before the pathology of the genital organs. In other cases, the malignant thyroid oncology develops due to unhealthy heredity, traumas of a mental nature, age characteristics or thyroid and endocrine pathologies.
Sometimes malignant oncology processes develop under the influence of dairy fermented diseases of dyshormonal etiology.
In men,
In a strong half of humanity, thyroid cancer is quite rare. This pathology is more typical for men living in regions that have iodine deficiency.
As for age characteristics, such oncology in men is divided into two categories: juvenile cancer( in the period of 10-20 years) and thyroid malignant oncology of middle age( 45-60 years).The majority of cases( ≈70%) fall on the middle-aged group of the male population.
According to statistics, 1 man and 2-3 women die per 100,000 population of thyroid cancer each year.
The first sign of thyroid cancer is the appearance of compaction in the cervical region. Only later, with the development of the tumor process, there are other clinical signs of a pathology such as wheezing, coughing, hoarseness, dysphagia, etc.
In children
The child population suffers from thyroid cancer much less often than adults. Most often, such a disease is detected at the age of 8-14 years, in 70% of girls. But experts say the tendency of more frequent cases of such oncopathology in young children.
Children are usually affected by the papillary form of oncology, which is characterized by slow development and less aggressive flow.
- In children, thyroid cancer usually occurs due to radiation exposure. . According to statistics, approximately 50% of patients before the oncology pathology were exposed to x-ray therapy of the cervical or thoracic region. Usually, cancer occurs after 8-10 years after passing the therapy.
- In addition, children provoke a thyroid cancer can nodular goiter .
Features of children's thyroid cancer is a short noninvasive phase, mainly highly differentiated oncoforms, frequent combination of tumor processes with other thyroid pathologies.
Classification of
There are several classifications of thyroid cancer. Depending on the histological features distinguish:
- Papillary( capillary) thyroid cancer, which is about 70% of cases;
- Follicular type, occurring in 15-20%;
- Mixed thyroid cancer - 5-10%;
- Medullary form is approximately 5% of cases;
- Lymphoma of the thyroid gland 2-3%;
- Anaplastic cancer - 2-3%.
As for the staging of thyroid cancer, it proceeds in four stages:
- Stage I - the formation is delimited from other tissues, does not cause deformation of the glandular capsule, does not give metastases;
- II a - formation is single, but deforms glandular tissues or there are multiple nodes without deformation and metastasis;
- II b is a tumor with unilateral metastasis in the lymph nodes. With medullary cancer at stage 1-2, the five-year survival rate is 98%;
- Stage III - the formation of a glandular glandular capsule either squeezes adjacent tissues, bilateral lymph node metastasis takes place;
- IV stage - the formation sprouts into neighboring tissues, the formation actively metastasizes into nearby or remote structures. In follicular cancer, survival at this stage is about 55%, with medullar forms - less than 30%.
Prognosis for thyroid cancer is quite favorable in comparison with other malignant processes.
If a tumor is found in patients under 45 years of age and its size does not exceed 3 cm, then the patient has every chance of recovery. In elderly patients with advanced forms of oncology, the predictions are very unfavorable.
How is thyroid cancer manifested?
For the thyroid cancer typical bright symptoms, however, the onset of pathology is difficult to notice. Usually the first signs of thyroid cancer are the appearance of a knot in the tissues of the thyroid gland, which begin to increase in volume.
This process is accompanied by such signs:
- Difficulty in swallowing;
- Difficulty in breathing;
- Presence in the throat of a painless lump that causes discomfort;
- Voice Voice Changes;
- Enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.
If you see this symptomatology, you need to contact a specialist without delay. At the initial stage, thyroid cancer is safely cured.
As the thyroid cancer is shown and treated:
If the treatment is not provided, then the oncology process develops, the pathology picture becomes worse, neck pains radiating to the ear area appear, the patient is disturbed by an unjustified cough, the cervical veins swell, and shortness of breath appears.
The appearance of such a symptom indicates a compression of the trachea and esophagus adjacent to the thyroid gland. And voice changes indicate metastasis in the ligamentous apparatus.
Causes of
There can be many reasons for thyroid cancer, among which the leading ones are:
- Hereditary factor, hereditary pathologies. There are many cases of family oncology;
- Age and gender characteristics. In women, such an oncology is detected three times more often and in younger 40-50 years of age, whereas in a male population such cancer is detected at 60 years and later;
- Radiation factor. Scientists have proven that exposure to radiation leads to the development of cancer of the gland. Irradiation therapy in the neck or head area in children also increases the likelihood of developing a tumor about 7-10 years after the end of treatment. Many other diagnostic procedures, such as computed tomography or X-ray diffraction, also have a radioactive effect. Therefore, such studies are carried out exclusively for children on reasonable grounds;
- Deficiency of iodine-containing foods in the diet also provokes the development of thyroid cancer. Iodine deficiency increases the risk of papillary and follicular cancer.
Similar factors cause the degeneration of normal cellular structures into malignant ones, when the patient's DNA mutates. If there is a heredity, then the child gets the mutated genes already at the moment of conception.
Diagnostics
Traditional diagnostics of oncology includes procedures like ultrasound, which allows to reveal the shapes and sizes of formations, to differentiate their character. In addition, a puncture biopsy is performed.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy Aspiration biopsy does not require any specific preparation. The patient is laid back on the couch to achieve muscle relaxation, a small cushion is placed under the neck, and under the head is a pillow.
Before entering the needle, the patient must necessarily swallow the entire salivary secret in order to avoid swallowing when piercing.
A needle biopsy is taken through the needle, which is then sent for cytology. A similar procedure is performed without anesthesia, since it is virtually painless and causes minor discomfort, as with injection.
Blood test
The patient must pass venous blood, which is examined for hormones and oncomarkers.
In calcitonium cancer, there is an increase in calcitonin, thyroglobulin, BRAF gene, EGFR, RET protooncogene mutation, and anti-platelet serum antibodies.
The thyroid-stimulating hormone in thyroid cancer is below or above the normal level. This hormone stimulates the hormonal activity of the thyroid gland. It is especially important to measure this hormone after surgery to avoid relapse.
In addition, the level of hormones such as triiodothyronine, thyroxine, parathyroid hormone, etc. is measured.
Instrumental diagnostics
Instrumental diagnostics such as ultrasound and X-ray examination such as MRI or CT are performed. With the help of a tomography it is possible to specify the stage of development of the tumor process.
Video on diagnosis and treatment of radioiodine by patients with highly differentiated thyroid cancer:
Thyroid oncology during pregnancy
This combination is controversial and different doctors have different opinions on this matter. Pregnancy provokes a hormonal splash, which is fraught with active growth of the tumor. Therefore, with such a combination it is worth considering a lot of nuances.
The final solution depends on the situation.
Metastasis
Thyroid cancer can give metastasis to any organ. Cancer cells with blood and lymph flow gradually spread throughout the body. With lymphogenous metastasis, oncology processes spread through the lymph nodes located in the neck.
In the spread of metastases, hematogenous secondary cancerous foci are formed predominantly in bone and pulmonary tissues. The femoral, humeral, pelvic and costal bones are usually affected. Sometimes there is also hepatic, cerebral metastasis, etc.
How to treat thyroid cancer?
The most priority method of treating thyroid cancer is surgery.
Surgical treatment
Surgery for thyroid cancer can be performed in several ways.
- With a small size of education, the isthmus and half of the thyroid gland are removed. A similar operation is called hemithyroidectomy. Half of the gland that has remained untouched will perform all thyroid functions.
- The main part of specialists considers the best possible option to completely remove the thyroid gland. Such an intervention is called thyroidectomy. But such a procedure requires the complete removal of cancer cells, otherwise repeated intervention can cause a lot of unfavorable complications.
- If there is germination in the lymph nodes, it is necessary to remove them, i.e. is carried out lymphodissection .
Post-operation prognosis
Postoperative period with thyroid cancer has very favorable prognosis.
The operation is excellent tolerability and soon after it patients live a normal life. For life, the patient will need replacement hormone therapy, prescribe drugs based on thyroid hormones, L-thyroxine, etc.
Treatment with radioactive iodine
For the final destruction of cancerous structures, a radioactive iodine therapy is prescribed, which when administered immediately accumulates in the thyroid gland.
Under the radioactive effect, cell destruction occurs.
Such treatment is usually prescribed after surgery.
Suppressive therapy
A suppressive approach to the treatment of thyroid cancer is a fundamental technique after tumor removal.
The aim of suppressive therapy is to reduce the serum concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone, for which patients are shown the administration of TSH-containing drugs. Suppressive therapy reduces the likelihood of relapses to a minimum, especially with follicular and papillary forms of a cancerous tumor.
But there are similar therapies and a number of disadvantages, such as side effects, which are manifested by osteoporosis, rapid heartbeat, arrhythmic atrial disorders, contractile deflections of the myocardium, etc.
But thyroid cancer responds well to such treatment, most importantly, under strict medical supervision.
Among the drugs used in suppressive therapy most often, doctors allocate:
- L-thyroxine;
- Somatulin;
- Bleomycin Sulfate, etc.
The independent designation of such remedies is categorically excluded, since hormonal preparations with uncontrolled reception can cause many problems.
Diet
The oncology diet with thyroid cancer should be based on iodine-containing products. Especially they are rich in marine gifts such as cod liver, crab, sea kale, fish, etc.
In addition, a food of vegetable origin, also rich in iodine, is required, for example, apples, persimmons, potatoes, beets, etc.
Especially useful are different kinds of salad andLuke. You can eat millet or buckwheat porridge, greens, tomatoes, cottage cheese, etc. It is necessary to avoid the use of Jerusalem artichoke and spinach, carrots and cabbage, as well as radishes.
Prevention of
100% prevention of thyroid cancer does not exist, but it is quite possible to reduce the likelihood of its occurrence. To do this, you need to monitor the weight, following the principles of PP.
It is necessary to avoid iodine deficiency by consuming products rich in iodine, for example, sea kale or iodized salt.
Symptoms of recurrence of
Relapse of such an oncology may be regional or local. In the latter case, cancers develop in the thyroid lobe, and regional relapse is manifested by lymphopoiesis.
Modern diagnostic techniques provide rapid detection and detection of relapse, for example, when using an ultrasound study that has no limitations.
This recommendation is given for life, that is, patients after treatment for thyroid cancer must be periodically examined, and so on until the end of life. With a serious and responsible approach, a relapse of the thyroid can safely be avoided.
Disability
Thyroid oncology is a rather complicated pathology, which requires time and a complex approach, including surgery, irradiation of iodine therapy, etc.
After removal of the thyroid, the patient will have to make up for a lifetime the absence of her hormones with the help of medications. But disability is given only in the presence of metastatic thyroid cancer.
- The first group of is formulated if there is a severe form of hypoparathyroidism or hypothyroidism with myocardial dystrophy and myopathy, an undifferentiated oncoprocess and its generalization.
- 2 group disability is determined with a dubious prognosis, non-radical therapy, severe hypothyroidism, or 2 stages of hypoparathyroidism, and also in the presence of bilateral reversal nerve damage.
- The third group of is assigned with functional disorders of the shoulder joint, mild hypoparathyroidism or moderate hypothyroidism.
Partial recovery in most cancer patients( 77%) occurs within a 3-year period in order to be fully rehabilitated, the patient will need at least 5 years.
Video tells about hereditary forms of thyroid cancer: