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Thyroid cancer

Journal Article · · Med. Clin. North Am.; (United States)
Thyroid cancer encompasses some forms that practically have no identifiable mortality to one of the most lethal soft tissue cancers known. Because of this variation, a knowledge of the role that age, histology, and extent of disease play in establishing a prognosis is necessary to provide a rational therapeutic program. Younger patients (under age 40) with differentiated cancer, even those with lymph node metastases, should not be overtreated with extensive surgery and T I or external beam therapy because the prognosis in these patients is so extremely good. Thyroid hormone suppression is probably adequate therapy for patients in this group after obvious disease has been resected. Recurrences can usually be effectively treated with T I. On the other hand, older patients should be treated more aggressively, especially with the routine use of T I ablation and therapy after resection of disease. Radiation therapy as described for recurrent disease should be considered at an early point and should be used immediately once the diagnosis of anaplastic cancer has been established. Finally, patience and observation alone should be considered a good therapeutic alternative, for example, in hypercalcitoninemic patients with medullary cancer that has been apparently adequately resected.
Research Organization:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
OSTI ID:
6294710
Journal Information:
Med. Clin. North Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Med. Clin. North Am.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN MCNAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English