Medullary Thyroid Cancer in Panama

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare form of thyroid cancer that starts in certain thyroid cells called C cells.

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What is medullary thyroid cancer?

Medullary thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the C cells of the thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck. C cells are responsible for producing calcitonin, a hormone that helps control how the body uses calcium.

Symptoms of Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer may include:

Lumps in the neck

Difficulty swallowing

Voice changes

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

High levels of calcitonin in the blood

Causes of Medullary Thyroid Cancer

The exact causes of medullary thyroid cancer are not fully understood. However, approximately 25% of cases are caused by a genetic mutation in the RET gene; while the rest usually develops sporadically, that is, it occurs for no apparent reason.

Diagnosis of Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Diagnosing medullary thyroid cancer is a staged process, which begins with a physical exam. The doctor reviews the patient’s history and palpates the neck for lumps or nodules.

The next step is to perform blood tests to check for elevated levels of calcitonin and CEA, substances that are released in greater quantities by thyroid C cells when they are being affected by cancer.

An ultrasound of the thyroid is then performed. This test uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the thyroid and allows the doctor to see the size and location of the nodules.

If the above results are suspicious, a thyroid biopsy is done. The procedure involves removing a small sample of thyroid tissue for pathological analysis. This is the only test that can definitively confirm the existence of cancer.

Stages of Medullary Thyroid Cancer

This type of cancer has four stages:

Stage I

The cancer is confined to the thyroid and is less than 2 centimeters in size.

Stage II

The cancer is still found only in the thyroid, but it is larger than 2 centimeters.

Stage III

The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to other organs

Stage IV

The cancer has spread to distant places in the body, such as the lungs or liver.

Treatments for Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Treatment for medullary thyroid cancer depends on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health. Options include:

Surgery (Thyroidectomy)

Thyroidectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid. It is the most common treatment for medullary thyroid cancer.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses beams of high-powered energy, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. It may be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells or to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that kills cancer cells, which can be given intravenously or orally in pill form.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that targets specific weaknesses present within cancer cells.

Hormone therapy

This option is used to suppress the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which stimulates the growth of thyroid cancer cells.

Importance of early detection

Early detection of medullary thyroid cancer is crucial because it can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment. In addition, it allows for more effective management of symptoms and reduces the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

On the other hand, in cases where cancer is hereditary, early detection allows preventive measures to be initiated in other family members who may be at risk.

Medullary thyroid cancer shows symptoms that can alert people to its presence.