THYROID
CANCER SUBTYPES IN OLDER / ELDERLY PATIENTS
Well-differentiated
(papillary-follicular) thyroid cancer remains the most common subtype of
thyroid cancer in older adults. It presents similar to younger patients. The
incidence of papillary thyroid cancer increases disproportionally in patients
> 45 years, with the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (< 10 mm) being the
most commonly found tumor in this group. Follicular thyroid cancer is more
common in areas of iodine deficiency with a peak incidence in the 6th
decade of age. However, in older patients, poorly-differentiated thyroid cancer
types are more commonly diagnosed.
Sporadic
medullary thyroid cancer is more common in older patients as compared to familial
forms (which are diagnosed in young patients). Many patients present with a
palpable neck mass. There may be local or systemic symptoms secondary to
metastases and potentially symptoms due to hormone hypersecretion (such as
diarrhea, flushing and bronchospasm)
Anaplastic
thyroid cancer has a peak incidence in the 7th decade of life. It
often arises within a more differentiated thyroid cancer. Typically presents as
a rapidly growing mass with metastases at the time of diagnosis.
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