Papillary Thyroid Cancer

STATISTICS AND PATHOLOGY

-

The incidence of thyroid cancer is rapidly

increasing
Of all thyroid cancers, papillary cancer is
the most common
Women are affected up to four times more
frequently than men
Thyroid cancer has a very favourable
prognosis, with a 98% five year and >95%
25 year survival rate
Papillary thyroid carcinoma grows slowly,
with a local spread to the lymphatic
system
Papillary thyroid carcinoma has been
associated with certain genetic mutations,
radiation exposure, iodine deficiency, and
some uncommon familial syndromes.

RISK FACTORS
Although the following
factors are associated with
papillary thyroid cancer,
most people who develop
this cancer do not have any
risk factors.
-

Family or personal history

of thyroid cancer or goiter
High exposure to
radiation (especially in
childhood)
Female sex
Under 50 years of age
Thyroid Cancer Canada

ASSESSMENTS
-

Your health care provider will perform

a physical assessment of
your thyroid gland, obtain a history of
your symptoms and risk factors.
If necessary, she will perform a
thyroid and neck ultrasound. During
the ultrasound, your health care
provider will place a probe over your
thyroid gland to assess it.
Depending on the results of the
ultrasound, you may have to undergo
fine needle aspiration. During this
procedure, your doctor will put a thin
needle into your thyroid nodule to get
a sample of your thyroid cells and
fluid. The sample is then analyzed to
determine if your cells are cancerous
or not.

PATIENT EDUCATION , SUPPORT

& RESOURCES
For additional info, contact Thyroid
Cancer Canada
Email: info@thyroidcancercanada.org
Phone: (416) 487-8267
Website:
https://www.thyroidcancercanada.org/su
pport-for-patients.php

MANIFESTATIONS
(the following are some of the things you might see)
- Thyroid nodule: a noticeable painless lump on the
front of the neck.
- Thyroid Nodules can lead to: Hoarse voice, difficulty
swallowing, throat and neck pain
- Swollen lymph nodes that are not due to an infection
or that persist for a long time.

MANAGEMENT
Definition of terms:
- Thyroidectomy partial or total removal of the thyroid
gland.
- Lobectomy removal of half of the thyroid gland.
- Radiation therapy radioactive iodine is used to
destroy thyroid cells that were not removed by
surgery.
- Hormone therapy thyroxine is used to suppress
thyroid-stimulating hormone.
- External-beam radiation therapy a machine outside
of the body directs radiation through the skin to the
thyroid carcinoma.
Treatment according to stage of illness:
a) Stage I and II Papillary Thyroid Cancer
- Total or partial thyroidectomy (with or without
radiation therapy)
- Lobectomy and removal of lymph nodes that contain
cancer, followed by hormone therapy
b) Stage III Papillary Thyroid Cancer
- Total thyroidectomy plus removal of involved lymph
nodes
- Radiation therapy
c) Stage IV
- Radiation therapy with radioactive iodine or
- Treatment with thyroxine, Sorafenib medication,
surgery of affected body tissues or external-beam
radiation therapy