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What Causes A Lump In The Neck While Having Papillary Thyroid Cancer?
Question: If someone has Papillary Thyroid Cancer that cannot be seen but has produced a lump on the neck that contains thyroid material, is there any benefit to cancer research for observing the course of this cancer rather than removing the thyroid gland straight away (in other words delay the operation if it benefited cancer research)
Brief Answer:
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
I am not following the first sentence.
How is it possible that the PTC cannot be seen but has produced a neck lump?
Typically, if there is a neck lump, a neck ultrasound is performed to confirm if it is a thyroid nodule. Then usually an ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy is performed of the nodule. This gives a fair idea as to the possibility of PTC in it.
Treatment options are then considered after a diagnosis is made.
Now to answer your question. So let us say that there is PTC is confirmed. You would like to know if cancer research can be benefitted by delaying surgery and just by observing it.
This is a practice followed in some cases by thyroid experts but typically reserved for those with very small, often incidentally detected PTC. These are usually few millimeters in size and are referred to as micro PTCs. Additionally, they must not have spread beyond the thyroid.
There are other factors also taken into consideration such as findings on physical examination.
So a specific answer to your question can only be given by an endocrinologist experienced in thyroid cancer management, who has the opportunity to examine you in-person.
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
I am not following the first sentence.
How is it possible that the PTC cannot be seen but has produced a neck lump?
Typically, if there is a neck lump, a neck ultrasound is performed to confirm if it is a thyroid nodule. Then usually an ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy is performed of the nodule. This gives a fair idea as to the possibility of PTC in it.
Treatment options are then considered after a diagnosis is made.
Now to answer your question. So let us say that there is PTC is confirmed. You would like to know if cancer research can be benefitted by delaying surgery and just by observing it.
This is a practice followed in some cases by thyroid experts but typically reserved for those with very small, often incidentally detected PTC. These are usually few millimeters in size and are referred to as micro PTCs. Additionally, they must not have spread beyond the thyroid.
There are other factors also taken into consideration such as findings on physical examination.
So a specific answer to your question can only be given by an endocrinologist experienced in thyroid cancer management, who has the opportunity to examine you in-person.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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