Thyroid Cancers

Thyroid cancer is among the top-15 most common cancer types in the United States of America and the most common endocrine malignancy. Thyroid cancer is divided into the following histologic types: differentiated thyroid cancer (95–96%), anaplastic thyroid cancer (1–2%), and medullary thyroid cancer. The only well-documented etiologic factor for differentiated thyroid cancer is radiation exposure; however, more than 90% of these cancers are unrelated to radiation exposure. Most patients with thyroid cancer carry a good prognosis with standard of care treatment. Thyroid cancers can exhibit a range of clinical patterns and growth behavior, ranging from slow-growing tumors with low mortality to aggressive clinical course. The chapter includes answers to practice-based questions covering the new principles of diagnosis, classification, staging, treatment, and outcomes in thyroid cancer. It also provides expert guidance in the areas of cancer-related uncertainties and controversies, including experience-based discussions.