Thyroid cancer history and symptoms

Overview
Most often the first symptom of thyroid cancer is a nodule in the thyroid region of the neck, but only few (up to 5%) of these nodules are malignant. Sometimes the first sign is an enlarged lymph node. Other symptoms that can be present are pain and changes in voice. Thyroid cancer is usually found in a euthyroid patient but hyperthyroidism may be a symptom of a large or metastatic well differentiated tumor.

Symptoms
Early thyroid cancer does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:


 * A nodule, lump, or swelling in the neck
 * Pain in the front of the neck
 * Hoarseness or other voice changes
 * Trouble swallowing
 * Breathing problems
 * Continuous cough

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Diseases with similar symptoms are listed in the following:


 * Nodular goiter
 * Thyroid adenoma
 * Thyroid cysts
 * Chronic thyroiditis

Clinical features of medullary thyroid carcinoma
The major clinical symptom of medullary thyroid carcinoma is diarrhea; occasionally a patient will have flushing episodes. Both occur particularly with liver metastasis. Occasionally, diarrhea or flushing will be the initial presenting complaint. The flushing that occurs in medullary thyroid carcinoma is indistinguishable from that associated with carcinoid syndrome. The presumed cause of flushing and diarrhea is the excessive production of calcitonin gene products (calcitonin or calcitonin gene-related peptide) and differs from the causation of flushing and diarrhea in carcinoid syndrome. Sites of spread of medullary thyroid carcinoma include local lymph nodes in the neck, lymph nodes in the central portion of the chest (mediastinum), liver, lung, and bone. Spread to other sites such as skin or brain occurs but is uncommon.