Symptoms & Signs
- Cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland
- Hoarseness or changing voice
- Neck swelling
- Thyroid lump (nodule)
Note: Symptoms may vary depending on the type of thyroid cancer
Diagnosis & Tests
A physical examination can reveal a thyroid mass or nodule (usually in the lower part of the front of the neck), or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
Tests for thyroid cancer:
- Elevated serum calcitonin (for medullary cancer) or serum thyroglobulin (for papillary or follicular cancer)
- Laryngoscopy showing paralyzed vocal cords
- Thyroid biopsy showing anaplastic, follicular, medullary, or papillary cancer cells
- Thyroid scan showing a nodule that does not light up on the scan (cold nodule)
- Ultrasound of the thyroid showing a nodule
This disease may also affect the results of the following tests:
- T3
- T4
- TSH
Pictures & Images
Endocrine glands
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Thyroid cancer: Overview, Causes
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Thyroid cancer: Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Thyroid cancer: Treatment
Review Date : 2/12/2009
Reviewed By : David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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