Thyroid Cancer
Multidisciplinary Cancer Experts
Lahey Clinic's cancer specialists provide advanced diagnosis and treatment of all types of thyroid cancers. Those diagnosed with one of these complex cancer will receive care from a multidisciplinary team of providers, including:
- Endocrinologists
- Endocrine and oncologic surgeons
- Otorhinolaryngologists
- Nuclear medicine physicians
- Radiation oncologists
- Medical oncologists specializing in head and neck cancer
Thyroid Cancer
The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid gland grow out of control and produce malignant (cancerous) tumors. Each year, approximately 44,000 Americans are diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Fortunately, most thyroid cancers are slow-growing and many patients can expect to survive with appropriate treatment.
Screening & Diagnostic Tests
Thyroid cancer is usually detected with an ultrasound of the neck and confirmed with a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Your doctor will recommend one or more of these tests to diagnose thyroid cancer:
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Neck lymph node mapping using ultrasound
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA)
- Molecular testing of FNA samples (when indicated)
- Solid tumor mutation panel analysis
- Genetic evaluation and counseling
- Tumor marker testing
- Advanced imaging for disease staging (including CT scans, MRI, radioactive iodine whole-body scans and PET/CT imaging)
Depending on your diagnosis and your personal risk factors, your doctor may recommend you have cancer genetic testing.
Treatments We Offer
Surgery is the mainstay of thyroid cancer treatment for almost all types of thyroid cancer. Depending on the characteristic of your thyroid cancer and other circumstances, your doctor may recommend one of the following:
- Thyroid lobectomy: Removal of half of the thyroid gland)
- Total thyroidectomy: Removal of the entire thyroid gland)
- Active surveillance: Careful monitoring changes to the cancer over time
A minority of patients may require additional treatments following surgery, such as radioactive iodine ablation (a radioactive pill to prevent the cancer from coming back).
At Lahey, our expert multidisciplinary team — including endocrinologists, surgeons, pathologists, nuclear medicine physicians and oncologists — will guide you through every step of your journey, from diagnosis to treatment and ongoing surveillance.
Thyroid Cancer Surgery
If your cancer care team suggests surgery, your endocrine surgeon will perform one of these procedures:
- Adrenalectomy: Removal of one or both adrenal glands
- Parathyroidectomy: Removal of one or more of the four parathyroid glands
- Thyroid lobectomy: Removal of part of your thyroid
- Thyroidectomy: Removal of the entire thyroid
Surgeons typically perform these operations by making an incision (cut) on the outside of your neck. When possible, surgeons use minimally invasive and laparoscopic techniques. These procedures use small incisions so you’ll have quicker healing, less downtime and minimal scarring.
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