Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Seventy to eighty percent of cancers occurring in the thyroid gland are papillary thyroid carcinoma. It has become one of the most frequently diagnosed types of cancer following the development of diagnostic methods such as needle biopsy and ultrasonography. Papillary thyroid carcinoma, which usually grows slowly, can often be successfully treated, especially in the under 45 age group. In some cases, it may spread to lymph nodes in the neck. The tumorous part or the entire thyroid gland can be removed by surgical methods. In some cases, removal of lymph nodes in the neck from the body followed by radioactive iodine therapy can yield results. Op. Dr. İbrahim Çolhan, who serves his patients in Adana, explained what papillary thyroid carcinoma is, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods.

What is Papillary Thyroid Cancer?

Papillary thyroid cancer stands out as the most common type of cancer encountered in the thyroid gland. Constituting eighty to ninety percent of all thyroid cancers, papillary thyroid cancer is generally the third most common cancer overall.

Papillary thyroid cancer, noted as the second most common cancer type after breast cancer in women, is twice as likely to occur in women compared to men. The course of the disease differs in women and men.

Is Papillary Thyroid Cancer Benign?

Basically, if a disease is named cancer, it is malignant. Cancer is a concept that expresses the probability of the structure in question to reproduce and spread. The cancer potential of papillary thyroid cancer varies according to its subcellular types and genetic subtypes. Classic papillary carcinoma can be considered a good-prognosis type of cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer cases diagnosed in time and treated with correct methods generally do not pose a risk of death.

How Are Thyroid Cancer Stages Determined?

Thyroid cancers are divided into stages based on criteria such as the condition within the thyroid, involvement of the capsule and surrounding tissues, whether it has spread to distant organs, and whether it has spread to neck lymph nodes.

What are the Symptoms of Papillary Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer cases may not show any clinical symptoms until they reach a certain size. Large thyroid cancers can spread to other surrounding structures. This leads to the emergence of certain symptoms. These symptoms are as follows:

• Patient experiencing hoarseness
• Producing a thick, muffled, and strained voice
• Pain complaints
• Feeling of choking
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling of coughing
• Difficulty swallowing

What is the Treatment for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma?

The primary method used in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer cases is surgical operation. The cancerous tissue of the thyroid is removed from the body by surgical means. The nature of the surgical operation is determined by the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to lymph nodes, and the extent of the area it occupies within the thyroid gland.

In cases where cancer has spread to lymph nodes, radioactive iodine therapy may be included in the surgical treatment, depending on the size and subtypes of the tumor. If the entire thyroid gland needs to be removed, the person may require thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

How is Papillary Thyroid Cancer Surgery Performed?

Papillary thyroid cancer surgery is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. During the operation, the patient is placed in a special supine position. An incision is made in the neck area to access the patient's thyroid gland. The entire thyroid gland or a part of it, along with any spread to lymph nodes, can be removed. Depending on the extent of the operation, a drain may be placed in the patient's neck.

How Long Does Papillary Thyroid Cancer Surgery Take?

The duration of papillary thyroid cancer surgery depends on the patient's neck structure, the size of the thyroid gland, and the relationship of the thyroid cancer with other surrounding tissues and structures. If lymph nodes also need to be removed, the operation time may be longer. Operations where only the thyroid is removed can usually be completed within one and a half to two hours. However, depending on the extent of lymph node dissection, the operation time can extend up to five hours.

Is Papillary Thyroid Cancer Surgery Risky?

All surgical operations carry certain risk factors. In papillary thyroid cancer surgery, as with all other surgeries, risks such as bleeding and wound infection may occur. Furthermore, depending on the location of the thyroid gland in the neck, injury to the arteries and veins leading to the brain may occur. Damage to the nerves leading to the vocal cords can happen. Functional disorders in the parathyroid glands may be experienced. However, these risks are very rarely seen in papillary thyroid cancer surgeries performed under appropriate clinical conditions by expert and experienced surgeons.

What Should Those Who Undergo Papillary Thyroid Cancer Surgery Pay Attention To?

Unlike other cancer surgeries, the only special consideration in papillary thyroid carcinoma operations is to avoid consuming iodine-containing foods after surgery. If the entire thyroid gland is removed during the operation, regular medication may be required for hormone replacement therapy.

Blood tests and hormone levels should be carefully monitored, and each patient's individual circumstances should be taken into account. Depending on the subtype of papillary thyroid cancer, there may be a risk of spread or recurrence. Therefore, the patient's condition should be kept under follow-up with neck ultrasonography.

Papillary Thyroid Cancer Metastasis

Papillary thyroid cancers first show spread towards the lymph nodes. Due to the subcellular type and genetic characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer, it can also spread through the bloodstream. In such cases, papillary thyroid cancer spreads to the bones and lungs.

Papillary thyroid cancer that metastasizes via the bloodstream can theoretically spread almost anywhere in the body. However, metastasis to other regions is rarely observed.

Does Papillary Thyroid Cancer Recur?

Like all other types of cancer, papillary thyroid cancers can recur. With correct surgical operation, treatment, and additional therapies performed by an expert and experienced physician, the risk of disease recurrence is minimized. In addition to the subtype and genetic characteristics of papillary cancer, whether the tumor is completely removed during the operation also affects whether the disease will recur.