Papillary thyroid cancer with metastases
Thyroid metastases
Metastases in thyroid cancer cover many organs, most of them are in the bone tissue, brain, liver and adrenal glands. Cancer cells are carried with the flow of lymph or blood, take over various parts of the body, quickly spreading throughout the body. Metastases, in the presence of cancer cells in the thyroid gland, can spread by hematogenous and lymphogenous pathways.
With lymphogenous metastasis, the lymph nodes located in the jugular cavity and in the lateral triangle of the neck are affected. Also in this case, metastases are concentrated in the prelaryngeal and peri-tracheal lymph nodes. Statistics confirm that in about 60% of patients local metastases are found in the peri-tracheal region or in the area of the neurovascular bundle of the neck.
Hematogenous metastasis promotes the spread of metastases to the lungs, bones, brain, liver and other organs. The ribs, spine, pelvic, humerus, and hip bones are most commonly affected. Determines the presence of metastases - pain, fragility of bones, high levels of calcium in the blood, a significant decrease in appetite, constipation, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rhythm and psychological balance.
Symptoms of metastases in the lungs are bloody sputum, dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain. Rapid fatigability is observed. Lung metastases can be infiltrative and focal, different in size, multiple and single. With metastases in the liver, a person feels bloating and pressure in the right side, weight decreases rapidly, nausea and fatigue appear.
If metastases have taken possession of the brain, the patient experiences constant headaches, his movements are limited, the feeling of time is lost, vomiting occurs. Metastases are diagnosed by passing a blood and urine test, by nuclear magnetic resonance, using radioisotope studies, X-rays, computed tomography. Timely removal of metastases or complete removal of thyroid tissue contributes to the preservation of life. In the treatment of metastases, chemotherapy is used, which is very successful in suppressing the growth of cancer cells.
Papillary thyroid cancer
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common form of tumor, can occur at any age, more often in young women, sometimes in children. The course of the disease is long, relatively favorable, depending on the size and focus of spread. This form of cancer has several variants of development, it can be a microscopic nodule on both lobes, which also captures the surrounding tissues.
Papillary carcinoma is an irregular or cystic mass. This type of cancer responds well to treatment. Metastases can spread to the neck, both in the case of small tumors, and with their large size. Of course, the presence of metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck after surgery increases the risk of recurrence of the disease, but if treatment is started on time, this does not lead to death. Distant metastases in papillary thyroid cancer are rare, most likely they can involve the lungs and bones.
Worst prognosis if the tumor has grown into the thyroid capsule. Doctors have not found out the specific cause of papillary thyroid cancer, but there are factors that increase the possibility of developing this pathology. Some of them are Cowden's syndrome, cancer or goiter of the thyroid gland in the family history, age from 30 to 50 years, the use of radiation therapy in the treatment of hemoblastosis, the effect of radiation.
Since papillary cancer affects mainly women, gender is also a risk factor. The onset of the disease is manifested by the appearance of a node in the thyroid gland, which has a dense consistency. The formed tumor is usually mobile with mechanical displacement, and with swallowing. But, if the papillary tumor grows into the surrounding tissues, the swallowing process is disrupted and it becomes motionless. Only regular visits to the doctor can prevent the development of a more aggressive course of papillary thyroid cancer.
Often, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland does not manifest itself with subjective symptoms, and patients turn to a specialist when metastases appear, which complicates treatment. Papillary cancer is practically insensitive to X-rays; during the application of complex therapy after surgery, the doctor may recommend X-ray irradiation of the thyroid gland and nearby lymph glands.
Papillary cancer treatment involves two methods:
- surgical intervention - partial or complete removal of thyroid tissue, if neighboring lymph nodes in the neck are affected, then they are removed.
- radioactive iodine - complete destruction of metastases, tumor foci, which may have been localized in the lungs or in the region of the regional lymph node.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
