Symptoms of thyroid cancer

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

Symptoms of thyroid cancer: non-specific manifest

Non-specific symptoms of thyroid cancer are signs that can appear in many other diseases, and they are not enough for diagnosis. Experts include the following as the most likely manifest (obvious) symptoms:

• the formation of a mobile or skin-connected tissue thickening on the neck (the rate of its growth varies, in some cases quite quickly);
• swelling of the lymph nodes located in the lower third of the neck, as well as in the area of the larynx and trachea;
• sensations of discomfort and pain in the neck and behind the ears (do not always occur, but only when the tumor grows into adjacent tissues or compresses the nerve fibers of the follicular epithelium of the gland);
• an increase in body temperature in the absence of any signs of respiratory or other inflammatory diseases;
• the appearance of hoarseness, coughing and difficulty swallowing, and in the case of stridor (compression of the trachea) and difficulty breathing with little physical exertion;
• dysphonia (loss of voice due to pressure from the tumor on the laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve);
• the appearance of a vascular network on the neck due to pressure from the neoplasm on the parathyroid blood vessels.

When examining patients who have come with such complaints, doctors immediately suspect cancer. Although it should be emphasized that the formation of a nodule in the thyroid gland is only a sign of oncology in one case out of twenty.

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms: Latent

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

Symptoms of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

• the initial nodular formation is found on one side of the thyroid gland, has a round shape with non-palpable microscopic protrusions in the form of papillae, the formation can be mobile or immobile when displaced, in most cases there is no feeling of discomfort or pain;
• ultrasound may reveal tumor growth into the gland capsule and surrounding tissues;
• the enlargement of the node occurs slowly, often the diameter of the formation does not exceed 10 microns, but can reach 40 microns or more;
• enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes on the side of the neoplasm, the enlarged nodes are quite soft;
• when a tumor is located in one lobe of the thyroid gland, the opposite lobe is often affected;
• the blood serum has an elevated level of the tumor marker, the thyroid prohormone thyroglobulin;
• increased levels of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in the blood;
• Functional disorders of the thyroid gland are usually absent.

To establish 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 puncture.

Symptoms of Follicular Thyroid Cancer

• the thyroid gland is significantly enlarged, the enlargement is diffuse;
• the tissues of the gland are sclerotized, and the appearance of calcified lipid-protein formations (psammosis bodies) is noted in it;
• the tumor formation is solid (round) or in the form of cords (trabecular);
• the tumor consists of atypical A-cells (follicular cells) of the thyroid gland with the inclusion of thyroid colloid;
• in most cases the tumor is encapsulated, that is, it has a membrane;
• extrathyroidal invasion is observed - tumor cells penetrate into the surrounding soft tissues and blood vessels;
• the lymph nodes in the neck area are hypertrophied;
• increased levels of thyroglobulin and CEA in the blood serum;
• Thyroid dysfunction manifests itself as hypothyroidism – a decrease in the level of thyroid hormones.

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

Symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer

• the tumor is solitary (a single node), affects the parenchyma of the gland and leads to its fibrosis;
• the tumor is formed by parafollicular C-cells of the gland (which produce the hormone calcitonin);
• the level of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in the blood serum is very high;
• the level of calcitonin in the blood is elevated (more than 100 pg/ml);
• amyloid is present in the gland tissues - a glycoprotein compound synthesized by malignant cells;
• high levels of parathyroid hormone in the blood (with the appearance of metastases of medullary cancer).

The most important diagnostic sign of medullary cancer is increased secretion of calcitonin. Excess of this hormone causes such symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer as decreased muscle strength, increased blood pressure, diarrhea, a feeling of heat and hyperemia of the skin of the face.

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

Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer Recurrence

Obvious symptoms of thyroid cancer recurrence – when the remaining tissue after its removal becomes malignant or when regional lymph nodes are affected – are detected only during regular examination of patients using ultrasound and blood tests.

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

• detection of calcitonin in the blood;
• increased levels of thyroglobulin in the blood;
• high levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the blood, which promotes cell proliferation.

To visualize cancer cells in any organ after treatment for papillary or follicular carcinoma, patients undergo scintigraphy with the introduction of radioactive isotopes of iodine. Malignant tissue cells in thyroid cancer relapse capture iodine, which is reflected on 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 health that may be associated with this endocrine gland. Early diagnosis of any oncological disease allows you to achieve success in its treatment, and a malignant thyroid tumor is no exception. The main thing is to try to prevent the development of pathology to the stage when the symptoms of thyroid cancer become obvious.