What are the types of thyroid cancer that do not require surgery?

Thyroid cancer can be divided into papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer without surgery. Patients are advised to undergo surgery under the guidance of a doctor according to their own condition to avoid delaying the disease.

1. Papillary thyroid cancer: It is a common thyroid cancer with low malignancy. In most cases, there are no obvious clinical symptoms and it can be found during a physical examination. If the tumor is relatively large, a lump may be felt in the neck, which can be confirmed by a pathological biopsy. Generally, thyroid lobectomy and isthmus resection or total thyroidectomy are required for treatment, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not required.

2. Follicular thyroid carcinoma: Follicular thyroid carcinoma has a high incidence of distant metastasis, and there is no clear treatment plan in clinical practice. If the tumor is relatively large or has invaded surrounding tissues and organs, total thyroidectomy can be used for treatment. If there is no distant metastasis, microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, etc. can be performed under the guidance of a doctor. After the operation, endocrine therapy can be performed using drugs such as levothyroxine sodium tablets and thyroid tablets as prescribed by the doctor;

3. Medullary thyroid cancer: Medullary thyroid cancer may cause local nodules, which often compress or invade surrounding organs or tissues, causing patients to experience symptoms such as dysphagia and hoarseness. Patients can undergo total thyroidectomy under the guidance of a doctor, and receive radioactive isotope iodine-131 treatment after surgery. They must also follow the doctor's advice to receive endocrine therapy with drugs such as levothyroxine sodium tablets;

4. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: Anaplastic thyroid cancer is highly malignant and develops rapidly, often with cervical lymph node metastasis and lung metastasis in a short period of time. Since there is no good preoperative assessment of the possibility of surgical resection, surgical resection is usually not recommended. Radioactive isotope iodine-131 treatment can be performed under the guidance of a doctor, combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, etc.

Patients are advised to take a rest in their daily life and avoid staying up late. They are advised to eat a light diet and avoid spicy foods such as peppers and garlic.