The thyroid gland is a vital human organ that controls many systems and organs in the human body. Malignant tumors of the thyroid gland are a rather dangerous disease. There are several types of thyroid cancers. They differ in construction and growth rate. The prognosis for patients depends on the type of cancer, stage of development, metastasis and the general condition of the patient’s body. In some cases, thyroid cancer recurs after treatment. 

Types of thyroid cancer

Types of thyroid cancer vary in the nature of their development.

• Papillary cancer is the most common type of cancer (it occurs in 70-80% of cases). Tumor growth is quite slow, as is metastasis. With papillary cancer, it grows into the capsule and grows together with neighboring tissues. The prognosis is more favorable than with other types of thyroid cancer.
•  Follicular cancer occurs more often in old age. It is also a common type of cancer (occurs in 10-15% of cases). Metastases in this cancer spread through the vessels.
• Medullary cancer is a rather dangerous type of cancer. This rare type of thyroid cancer occurs in 5-10% of cases. This type of tumor does not grow very quickly. It was recognized that this is a hereditary type of disease.
• Undifferentiated or anaplastic cancer is the most dangerous cancer and includes a group of cancers characterized by rapid growth and poor prognosis.

Recurrent tumors

Most often, recurrence of thyroid cancers occurs in the first year after surgical removal of the tumor. But the reappearance of formations is possible even several years after treatment. Relapses more often occur in the case of papillary or follicular cancers. According to statistics, recurrence of these tumors occurs in about 30% of cases. If there is a relapse of the disease, then the patient is on the dispensary all his life.

One of the possible reasons that the disease has returned is incomplete removal of the malignant neoplasm. To detect tumors, the patient is prescribed an examination using ultrasound, scintigraphy. An aspiration biopsy is also required. Unfortunately, not all tumors can be differentially diagnosed in this way. Follicular formations of a benign and malignant nature cannot be distinguished from each other without removal. Therefore, already during the operation, the tumor tissue is examined histologically. Only after that determine the amount of surgical intervention.

Relapse treatment

Recurrences of thyroid cancer are treated with surgery. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the general condition of the patient, the stage of the disease, the presence of metastases, the type of malignant tumor. Timely detection of tumors is important.

After removal of the tumor, treatment with radioactive iodine may be additionally recommended. In case of contraindications to surgery with the help of radioiodine therapy, malignant thyroid tumors are treated.