What+is+Thyroid+cancer?


 * 1) I. The Thyroid:

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped hormonal gland that plays an important role in metabolism, growth, and maturation of the body. It is located in the front part of the neck just beneath the Adam’s Apple (also known as the thyroid cartilage) Figure 1. . The tissue of the thyroid is composed of small individual lobules joined together by thin sheets of connective tissue 1. The lobules contain small vesicles called follicles that store droplets of the thyroids hormones Figure 2. 1. There are two main types of cells that make up the Thyroid: Follicular cells and C cells 2. Follicular cells use iodine to synthesize thyroid hormones Triiodinethyronine (T3) and Tetraiodinethryonine (thyroxine or T4) which increase basal metabolic rate 1. The other main type of cells, C cells (or parafollicular cells), synthesize the hormone calcitonin, which regulates calcium use and bone metabolism 2. The immune system cells Lymphocytes are less common but are also found in the thyroid 2.


 * 1) II. Common Problems Associated with the Thyroid:

Problems associated with the thyroid generally inv olve abnormal amounts of hormone production, enlargement of gland, or presence of nodules. A condition called hyperthyroidism occurs when T3 and T4 hormones are overly expressed, resulting in rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, insomnia, hunger, weight loss, and hot flushes/sweating 2. On the other hand, if not enough hormones are produces, a condition known as hypothyroidism, the result will be a loss of energy, gain in weight, fatigue, slow pulse, dry skin, sensitivity to cold, and even depression 1. These hormones are regulated by the pituitary gland in the brain which produces the thyroid-stimulating hormone 2. Other problems that may occur to the thyroid involve the enlargement of the gland or the formation of nodules in the gland. Most of the time the enlargement of the thyroid caused by hormonal imbalance (also known as a goiter) and is not cancerous, however 1 in 20 thyroid nodules, or lumps in the thyroid gland, are cancerous 2. Different thyroid cancers, which will be discussed later, develop from the different types of cells found in the gland.