What is a Thyroid Tumor?
A thyroid tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the thyroid gland. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but approximately 5–10% may be cancerous.
Types of Thyroid Tumors
- Benign Thyroid Nodules
- Papillary Thyroid Cancer (most common and highly treatable)
- Follicular Thyroid Cancer
- Medullary Thyroid Cancer
- Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (rare but aggressive)
Symptoms
Many thyroid tumors do not cause symptoms initially. As they grow, patients may experience:
- A lump or swelling in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness or voice changes
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent cough not related to a cold
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Diagnosis of Thyroid TumorsYour specialist may recommend:
- Physical examination
- Thyroid function blood tests
- Neck ultrasound
- Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC)
- CT or MRI scan (if required)
- Radioactive iodine scan (selected cases
Thyroid Tumor Treatment
Treatment
depends on the type, size, stage, and overall health of the patient.
1. Active Surveillance
Very
small, low-risk thyroid cancers may only require regular monitoring with
ultrasound and clinical examinations.
2. Surgery
Surgery
remains the primary treatment for most thyroid tumors.
Common
procedures include:
Modern
surgical techniques help preserve the voice nerves and parathyroid glands
whenever possible.
3. Radioactive Iodine Therapy
Recommended
after surgery in selected thyroid cancers to destroy any remaining thyroid
tissue or microscopic cancer cells.
4. Thyroid Hormone Therapy
Patients
who undergo total thyroidectomy require lifelong thyroid hormone replacement,
which also helps reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
5. External Beam Radiotherapy
Used
in selected advanced or recurrent thyroid cancers.
6. Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy
Advanced thyroid cancers that cannot be treated with surgery or
radioactive iodine may benefit from targeted medications or
immunotherapy.
Hemithyroidectomy
(Lobectomy): Removal of one thyroid
lobe
Total
Thyroidectomy: Removal of the entire
thyroid gland
Neck
Dissection: Removal of affected
lymph nodes if cancer has spread
Parathyroid Tumors
What is a Parathyroid Tumor?
Parathyroid tumors are abnormal growths in one or more of the four parathyroid glands. Most are benign adenomas, while parathyroid cancer is extremely rare.
These tumors commonly cause primary hyperparathyroidism, resulting in excessive production of parathyroid hormone (PTH).
Symptoms of Parathyroid Tumors
High calcium levels caused by excess PTH may lead to:
- Kidney stones
- Bone pain
- Osteoporosis
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Depression or mood changes
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
Many patients are diagnosed during routine blood tests before symptoms develop.
Diagnosis
Evaluation typically includes:
- Blood calcium levels
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels
- Vitamin D levels
- Kidney function tests
- Neck ultrasound
- Sestamibi scan
- 4D CT scan (when needed)
- Bone density scan
Parathyroid Tumor Treatment
Medical Management
Patients who are not suitable for surgery may be managed with:
- Adequate hydration
- Medications to lower calcium levels
- Vitamin D correction
- Regular monitoring
However, medical treatment does not cure the tumor.
Minimally Invasive Parathyroid Surgery
Surgery is the definitive treatment for most symptomatic parathyroid adenomas.
Benefits include:
- Small incision
- Less pain
- Short hospital stay
- Faster recovery
- High cure rates (over 95% in experienced hands)
Conventional Parathyroid Surgery
Recommended when:
- Multiple glands are affected
- Tumor location is uncertain
- Previous neck surgery has been performed
- Parathyroid cancer is suspected