Hurthle cell carcinoma (patient information)

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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.

Overview
Hurthle cell is a rare type of thyroid cancer. It is also known as oxyphil cell carcinoma. Usual signs and symptoms of Hurthle cell cancer may include a fast-growing lump in the neck, enlarged and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, pain in the neck or throat, hoarseness or other changes in your voice, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, and a continuous cough. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of them. Surgery to remove the thyroid gland is the most common treatment. Radioactive iodine is also used for treatment and to find metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer. The prognosis of Hurthle cell cancer may not be good because it is harder to find and treat as it is less likely to absorb radioactive iodine.

Related chapters

 * Adenoma (patient information)
 * Oncocytoma (patient information)
 * Oxyphil cell
 * Thyroid cancer (patient information)

Resources
Mayoclinic