Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

The main symptoms of thyroid cancer in the early stages do not give a clear clinical picture of the disease, and most oncologists say that they are generally absent, since this pathology develops without specific signs.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer: nonspecific manifest

Nonspecific symptoms of thyroid cancer are signs that can manifest themselves in a variety of other diseases, and they are not enough to diagnose them. To such most probable manifest (obvious) symptoms experts attribute:

• the formation on the neck of a mobile or tissue-tight tissue seal (the rate of its increase is different, in some cases quite fast);
• swelling of the lymph nodes located in the lower third of the neck, as well as in the larynx and trachea;
• feelings of discomfort and pain in the neck and behind the ears (there are not always, but only when the tumor grows into neighboring tissues or squeezes the nerve fibers of the follicular epithelium of the gland);
• increased body temperature in the absence of any signs of respiratory and other inflammatory diseases;
• the appearance of hoarseness, coughing and difficulty swallowing, and with stridor (compression of the trachea) and shortness of breath with little physical exertion;
• dysphonia (loss of voice due to tumor pressure on the larynx of the vagus nerve);
• the appearance of a vascular network on the neck at the pressure of neoplasm on the parathyroid blood vessels.

When examining patients who have treated such complaints, the suspicion of cancer arises from doctors immediately. Although it is necessary to emphasize that the formation of a node in the thyroid gland only in one case out of twenty turns out to be a sign of oncology.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer: latent

At the initial stages, thyroid cancer develops in a latent (latent) form. And it will be useful to have an idea of what symptoms of thyroid cancer are detected in patients with examination by endocrinologists.

Symptoms of papillary thyroid cancer

• the initial nodular formation is found on one side of the thyroid gland, has a rounded shape with non-palpable microscopic protrusions in the form of papillae, the formation can be movable or immobile when displaced, a sensation of discomfort or pain is absent in most cases;
• on ultrasound can be revealed the germination of the tumor in the capsule of the gland and in the surrounding tissues;
• the knot enlargement is slow, often the diameter of the formation does not exceed 10 μm, but can reach 40 μm or more;
• the enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes from the side of the neoplasm, the enlarged knots are rather soft;
• with a tumor in one lobe of the thyroid gland, a lesion of the opposite lobe is often observed;
• in the blood serum the level of the oncomarker - thyroid hormone thyroglobulin prohormone was increased;
• increased the content of CEA (cancer-embryonic antigen) in the blood;
• functional disorders of the thyroid gland, as a rule, are absent.

For an accurate diagnosis, the symptoms of papillary thyroid cancer do not have an absolute evidentiary character without an immunochemical blood test and a fine needle puncture biopsy of the thyroid gland and a histological examination of the punctate.

Symptoms of follicular thyroid cancer

• The thyroid gland is significantly enlarged, the increase is diffuse;
• the gland tissues are sclerotized, the appearance in it of calcined lipid-protein formations (psammose bodies);
• tumor formation is solid (solid) - rounded or in the form of cords (trabecular);
• the tumor consists of atypical A-cells (follicular cells) of the thyroid gland with inclusion of a thyroid colloid;
• in most cases, the tumor is encapsulated, that is, it has a membrane;
• extrathyroid invasion is observed - tumor cells penetrate into surrounding soft tissues and blood vessels;
• lymph nodes in the neck are hypertrophied;
• increased the level of thyroglobulin and CEA in the blood serum;
• the violation of the thyroid gland functions is manifested in the form of hypothyroidism - a decrease in the level of thyroid hormones.

Manifest symptoms of follicular thyroid cancer - pain in the tumor, coughing, hoarseness, weakness, hyperhidrosis (increased sweating), weight loss - appear with the progression of the disease.

Symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer

• a solitary tumor (single node), affects the parenchyma of the gland and leads to its fibrosis;
• the tumor is formed by parafollicular C-cells of the gland (producing the hormone calcitonin);
• the level of REA (cancer-embryonic antigen) in the blood serum is very high;
• the level of calcitonin in the blood is increased (more than 100 pg / ml);
• in the gland tissues there is amyloid - a glycoprotein compound synthesized by malignant cells;
• high content of parathyroid hormone in the blood of the parathyroid glands (with the appearance of metastases of medullary cancer).

The most important diagnostic feature of medullary cancer is an increase in the secretion of calcitonin. Excess of this hormone causes such symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer as a decrease in muscle strength, increased blood pressure, diarrhea, a feeling of heat and hyperemia of the facial skin.

As oncology-endocrinologists note, this type of cancer develops faster than others, giving metastases to the lymph nodes of the neck, trachea and nearby muscle tissues, as well as to the lungs, skeletal bones and liver. And the distant metastases of the very first is affected by the liver.

Symptoms of a recurrence of thyroid cancer

The obvious symptoms of recurrence of thyroid cancer - when malignant tissue remnants after its removal or when regional lymph nodes are damaged - are detected only during regular examination of patients with ultrasound and blood tests.

The presence of a recurrence of thyroid cancer is indicated by:

• calcitonin in the blood;
• increased thyroglobulin levels in the blood;
• a high content of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the blood that promotes cell proliferation.

To visualize cancer cells of any organs after treatment with papillary or follicular carcinoma, patients undergo scintigraphy with the introduction of radioactive isotopes of iodine. Malignant tissue cells with recurrence of thyroid cancer capture iodine, which is reflected in the tomograph monitor.

As you have seen, thyroid cancer has many features of its manifestation. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the slightest changes in the state of health that can be associated with this endocrine gland. Early diagnosis of any cancer affects success in its treatment, and a malignant thyroid tumor is no exception. The main thing - to try to prevent the development of pathology to the stage when symptoms of thyroid cancer become apparent.