Does thyroid cancer cause numbness in the face?

Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor that originates from the thyroid follicular epithelium or parafollicular cells. It is the most common malignant tumor in the head and neck. It may cause neck lumps, hoarseness, facial numbness or facial paralysis. Thyroid cancer may cause numbness in the face, which is thought to be caused by peripheral nerve damage caused by thyroid cancer.

1. Neck mass: Most thyroid cancer patients have no obvious symptoms in the early stage. They are often found during physical examinations. They may present as painless masses in the neck with hard texture and uneven surface. As the tumor continues to grow, patients may experience symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and hoarseness. The enlargement of the mass may also cause compression symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing when compressing the esophagus and difficulty breathing when compressing the trachea.

2. Hoarseness: Thyroid cancer may cause hoarseness, which may be caused by the tumor compressing the recurrent laryngeal nerve, or by the thyroid cancer directly invading or metastasizing to the larynx;

3. Facial numbness or facial paralysis: Some thyroid cancer patients may experience facial numbness or facial paralysis in the early stages, which is a manifestation of peripheral nerve damage. If thyroid cancer occurs in or invades the facial nerves, as the disease progresses, the tumor area continues to expand, and the symptoms will gradually worsen;

4. Other symptoms: As the disease progresses, patients with thyroid cancer may also develop hyperthyroidism, which manifests as palpitations, sweating, weight loss, diarrhea, etc. Thyroid cancer patients may also develop symptoms of hypothyroidism, which manifests as chills and fatigue.

If the patient suspects that the numbness in the face is caused by thyroid cancer, it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment in time. Ultrasound examination can be used to observe the size, boundary, shape, and blood flow of the thyroid nodules. If necessary, a puncture biopsy can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. After the diagnosis is confirmed, surgical resection should be performed under the guidance of a doctor, and auxiliary radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc. are required after the operation.