1. What are the early symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Early thyroid cancer usually causes no obvious symptoms and is often found as a nodule on ultrasound during health examinations. Enlargement may cause neck lumps, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or breathing difficulty.
2. What types of thyroid cancer are there?
Main types are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic carcinoma. Papillary carcinoma is most common, accounting for about 80%, grows slowly, and has a favorable prognosis. Follicular carcinoma is next most common.
3. What types of thyroid cancer surgery are available?
Surgery includes thyroid lobectomy with isthmusectomy and total thyroidectomy. Extent depends on tumor size, multifocality, and lymph node metastasis.
4. What is minimally invasive treatment for thyroid cancer?
Low-risk papillary microcarcinoma may be managed with active surveillance and regular ultrasound. Some small tumors may undergo radiofrequency or microwave ablation.
5. Why is endocrine therapy needed after thyroid cancer surgery?
Postoperative levothyroxine sodium suppresses TSH to reduce recurrence risk in differentiated thyroid cancer and replaces thyroid function to maintain normal metabolism.
6. What is the role of radioactive iodine therapy?
Radioactive iodine therapy uses thyroid cancer cells' iodine uptake to eliminate postoperative residual thyroid tissue and metastases with iodine-131. It is suitable for intermediate- and high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer.
7. What follow-up is needed after thyroid cancer treatment?
Regular postoperative thyroglobulin testing and neck ultrasound monitor recurrence. Follow-up frequency depends on risk stratification. Long-term thyroid hormone use requires regular thyroid function monitoring.
