Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhere It SpreadsSymptomsTypes and ProgressionAfter ThyroidectomyNext in Thyroid Cancer GuideThyroid Cancer Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Where It Spreads
Symptoms
Types and Progression
After Thyroidectomy
Next in Thyroid Cancer Guide
Thyroid cancer can becomemetastaticwhen cancer cells originating in the thyroid gland spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream orlymphatic system(tissue, vessels, and organs carrying white blood cells back to the bloodstream). Only 3% of cases are metastatic at the time of diagnosis.
Oncethyroid cancermetastasizes, it can affect various organs and tissues. Early detection of thyroid cancer is important to start treatment and improve outcomes.Thyroidectomy(removal of the thyroid gland) and other treatments may be performed to prevent metastasis and potentially cure thyroid cancer.
Most thyroid cancer cases (64%) are diagnosed while the cancer is localized in the thyroid, and 30% when it has spread only to regional lymph nodes but not to distant sites.
This article will review the most common sites of metastasis, the symptoms associated with metastatic disease, the types of thyroid cancer, and their progression.
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Where in the Body Thyroid Cancer Spreads
The most common sites of thyroid cancer metastasis are:
The lymph nodes in the neck are the most common sites of early metastasis due to the direct drainage of the thyroid gland into these nodes through the lymphatic system.
As the cancer progresses, it then spreads to distant sites via the bloodstream. The exact pattern of where thyroid cancer metastasizes can vary depending on the specific type of thyroid cancer and the characteristics of the tumor.
Stages of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is assigned a stage from 1 to 4 at diagnosis. Consideration is given to the type of cancer and age at diagnosis and based on the following:
Invisible Symptoms of Metastatic Thyroid Cancer
In the early stages of thyroid cancer, it is common to not have many noticeable signs or that the symptoms that are experienced are overlooked or attributed to something else. These initial signs and symptoms may include:
Metastatic thyroid cancer can also present with non-specific or invisible symptoms, which can make the diagnosis challenging. A person may experience symptoms that are attributed to other conditions. Symptoms can include:
As the cancer progresses and involves various organs, other symptoms may appear, including:
These subtle symptoms of metastatic thyroid cancer show the importance of regular monitoring and visits with a healthcare provider to detect metastasis early in those who have previously been treated for thyroid cancer.
What Are Thyroid Cancer Symptoms in Females?
Types of Thyroid Cancer and Progression
Metastatic thyroid cancer is one of a few varioustypes of thyroid cancer. Each has its own characteristics and patterns of progression. The most common types of metastatic thyroid cancer include:
The rate at which thyroid cancer spreads can vary significantly and depends on several factors, such as:
Generally, thyroid cancer tends to be slow-growing, particularly in the case of papillary and follicular carcinomas (malignant tumors), which are the most common types. In the early stages, it is highly treatable.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer and usually progresses slowly. If it spreads, it often is found in the lymph nodes in the neck before traveling to distant organs.
Follicular thyroid cancer, the second most common type of thyroid cancer, tends to spread through the bloodstream to distant organs, such as the lungs or bones.
Medullary thyroid cancer is much less common than papillary or follicular types, occurring in 3% to 5% of all thyroid cancers. It is also more aggressive than those types. This type can metastasize to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, or bones.
Metastatic Thyroid Cancer After Thyroidectomy
A commontreatmentfor early stage thyroid cancer is the surgical removal of the thyroid in a procedure called athyroidectomy. Often it is done in an attempt to cure thyroid cancer.
Even though the primary tumor may have been removed, cancer cells may have already spread to other parts of the body before the surgery, or may develop metastases later on.
Additionally, blood tests that measure thyroid hormone levels and tumor markers may be performed to monitor for disease progression. Treatment options for metastatic thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy depend on a variety of factors, including the size and location of metastases, overall health status, and characteristics of the tumor.
Treatment options may include:
Collaboration among surgeons, endocrinologists (specialists in hormonal conditions), oncologists (cancer specialists), and other healthcare providers is important in managing metastatic thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy.
Summary
Thyroid cancer, though not uncommon and often very treatable, can spread to other parts of the body, which is called metastatic thyroid cancer. It can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms can be subtle. Common areas it spreads to include the lymph nodes, lungs, bones, liver, brain, and adrenal glands.
Early signs may include a lump in the neck, voice changes, or difficulty swallowing. Symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, and bone pain may develop as it progresses.
There are different types of thyroid cancer, with some being slow-growing and others more aggressive. After surgery to remove the thyroid, regular check-ups are important to catch any spreading early.
Treatment options include radioactive iodine therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation. Teamwork and collaboration between healthcare providers is necessary for the best care.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.Toraih EA, Hussein MH, Zerfaoui M, et al.Site-specific metastasis and survival in papillary thyroid cancer: the importance of brain and multi-organ disease.Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(7):1625. doi:10.3390/cancers13071625American Cancer Society.Thyroid cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.Parameswaran R, Shulin Hu J, Min En N, Tan W, Yuan N.Patterns of metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma and the difference between early and delayed presentation.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2017;99(2):151-154. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0300Kazakou P, Simeakis G, Alevizaki M, Saltiki K.Medullary thyroid carcinoma (Mtc): unusual metastatic sites.Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2021;2021:21-0063. doi:10.1530/EDM-21-0063Jannin A, Escande A, Al Ghuzlan A, et al.Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: an update.Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(4):1061. doi:10.3390/cancers14041061Nabhan F, Dedhia PH, Ringel MD.Thyroid cancer, recent advances in diagnosis and therapy.Intl Journal of Cancer. 2021;149(5):984-992. doi:10.1002/ijc.33690
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.Toraih EA, Hussein MH, Zerfaoui M, et al.Site-specific metastasis and survival in papillary thyroid cancer: the importance of brain and multi-organ disease.Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(7):1625. doi:10.3390/cancers13071625American Cancer Society.Thyroid cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.Parameswaran R, Shulin Hu J, Min En N, Tan W, Yuan N.Patterns of metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma and the difference between early and delayed presentation.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2017;99(2):151-154. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0300Kazakou P, Simeakis G, Alevizaki M, Saltiki K.Medullary thyroid carcinoma (Mtc): unusual metastatic sites.Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2021;2021:21-0063. doi:10.1530/EDM-21-0063Jannin A, Escande A, Al Ghuzlan A, et al.Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: an update.Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(4):1061. doi:10.3390/cancers14041061Nabhan F, Dedhia PH, Ringel MD.Thyroid cancer, recent advances in diagnosis and therapy.Intl Journal of Cancer. 2021;149(5):984-992. doi:10.1002/ijc.33690
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.Toraih EA, Hussein MH, Zerfaoui M, et al.Site-specific metastasis and survival in papillary thyroid cancer: the importance of brain and multi-organ disease.Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(7):1625. doi:10.3390/cancers13071625American Cancer Society.Thyroid cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.Parameswaran R, Shulin Hu J, Min En N, Tan W, Yuan N.Patterns of metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma and the difference between early and delayed presentation.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2017;99(2):151-154. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0300Kazakou P, Simeakis G, Alevizaki M, Saltiki K.Medullary thyroid carcinoma (Mtc): unusual metastatic sites.Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2021;2021:21-0063. doi:10.1530/EDM-21-0063Jannin A, Escande A, Al Ghuzlan A, et al.Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: an update.Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(4):1061. doi:10.3390/cancers14041061Nabhan F, Dedhia PH, Ringel MD.Thyroid cancer, recent advances in diagnosis and therapy.Intl Journal of Cancer. 2021;149(5):984-992. doi:10.1002/ijc.33690
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: thyroid cancer.
Toraih EA, Hussein MH, Zerfaoui M, et al.Site-specific metastasis and survival in papillary thyroid cancer: the importance of brain and multi-organ disease.Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(7):1625. doi:10.3390/cancers13071625
American Cancer Society.Thyroid cancer stages.
National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.
Parameswaran R, Shulin Hu J, Min En N, Tan W, Yuan N.Patterns of metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma and the difference between early and delayed presentation.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2017;99(2):151-154. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2016.0300
Kazakou P, Simeakis G, Alevizaki M, Saltiki K.Medullary thyroid carcinoma (Mtc): unusual metastatic sites.Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2021;2021:21-0063. doi:10.1530/EDM-21-0063
Jannin A, Escande A, Al Ghuzlan A, et al.Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: an update.Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(4):1061. doi:10.3390/cancers14041061
Nabhan F, Dedhia PH, Ringel MD.Thyroid cancer, recent advances in diagnosis and therapy.Intl Journal of Cancer. 2021;149(5):984-992. doi:10.1002/ijc.33690
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