What are the classifications of thyroid cancer? Thyroid cancer is generally divided into these 4 types

There are many types of thyroid cancer, the most common of which is papillary thyroid cancer, which is a low-grade malignant tumor and is relatively easy to cure. It may also be follicular thyroid cancer or medullary thyroid cancer. If it is a highly malignant type, it can be diagnosed as anaplastic thyroid cancer, which may develop rapidly in a short period of time and the prognosis is generally poor.

Thyroid cancer is a relatively common malignant tumor disease. Although the disease generally has a good prognosis, it is still necessary to actively receive anti-cancer and anti-cancer treatment after diagnosis, and classification should be carried out in advance. However, many patients are not clear about the specific types of thyroid cancer, so it is necessary to understand it. So what are the classifications of thyroid cancer?

1. Papillary thyroid carcinoma

Clinically, thyroid cancer is classified mainly based on pathological types, of which papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type and is a low-grade malignant tumor. If this type is found during examination, it is characterized by a small tumor volume and slow development, and there may be metastatic lesions. This generally means that a particularly good prognosis can be achieved. As long as you actively undergo total thyroidectomy and receive consolidation treatments such as endocrine and radionuclide therapy, you can achieve recovery.

2. Follicular thyroid carcinoma

Follicular thyroid cancer refers to a type of thyroid cancer that is similar in histology and cytology to the structure of thyroid follicles, has the characteristics of rapid blood spread and distant metastasis, and is prone to invade blood vessels and even involve the brain and skin. This type of thyroid cancer is more likely to occur in middle-aged and elderly people and requires the help of distant bone metastasis biopsy to be diagnosed.

3. Medullary thyroid cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer is a type of thyroid cancer with a relatively high degree of deterioration. It can be further divided into sporadic and familial types in clinical terms. After the onset of the disease, distant metastasis may occur through the blood and other pathways. Patients may mainly experience an increase in serum calcitonin levels, which may be accompanied by oppressive symptoms such as hoarseness and dyspnea.

4. Anaplastic thyroid cancer

If the examination finds that thyroid cancer is a highly malignant tumor, it can be classified as anaplastic thyroid cancer. However, this type of cancer is extremely rare among young people and mostly occurs in people over 65 years old. The disease progresses very quickly and may invade surrounding tissues and organs in a short period of time and cause regional lymph node enlargement. Therefore, the prognosis is relatively poor, and it is difficult to completely recover even with timely treatment.