What tests are generally needed for thyroid cancer

What kind of examinations are generally needed for thyroid cancer? Regardless of the treatment of any disease, an examination is required first to help understand the development of the disease and to confirm the type of disease. Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor disease. Because the surface symptoms are not obvious, examination is the only basis for diagnosis. So what kind of examinations are generally needed for thyroid cancer?

1. Clinical examination

Attention should be paid to the location, shape, size, single or multiple thyroid tumors, texture, degree of activity, whether the surface is smooth, tenderness, and whether it can move up and down with swallowing. In addition, attention should also be paid to whether the cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, hoarseness, and vocal cord activity.

Thyroid cancer should be considered if the following symptoms are present:

(1) The tumor is firm and has a rough surface.

(2) Male and child patients are more likely to have cancer.

(3) Producing symptoms of compression, such as hoarseness or difficulty breathing.

(4) The tumor is limited in activity or fixed and does not move up and down with swallowing.

(5) In some cases of cervical lymph node enlargement, lymph node puncture can extract straw-yellow fluid.

(6) Sudden enlargement in a short period of time. However, it should be noted that thyroid cystadenoma may be accompanied by intracystic bleeding.

2. Cytological examination

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the primary lesion or cervical lymph nodes can often confirm the diagnosis. Since FNAB only makes a diagnosis from a cytological perspective, it is difficult to classify the tumor tissue. In cases of cervical lymph node enlargement, cervical lymph node biopsy or frozen section examination can also be performed.

3. X-ray examination

X-ray examination of the lateral and anteroposterior neck can show the calcification (sammoth body) foci in the thyroid tumor, tracheal compression and displacement. Barium swallow examination can help to understand whether the esophagus is involved. Chest X-ray examination can find metastasis to the upper mediastinum and lungs.

4. B-mode ultrasound examination

Images of early thyroid cancer and solid and cystic tumors can be obtained.

5. CT and MRI scans

CT has certain clinical significance in judging the benign and malignant nature of thyroid tumors and distinguishing between solid and cystic tumors.

6. Thyroglobulin determination

It is helpful for the differential diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

If you have these symptoms of thyroid cancer, please go to a regular oncology hospital for a thyroid cancer examination as soon as possible to confirm whether you have thyroid cancer.