Symptoms of Thyroid cancer

List of symptoms of Thyroid cancer:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Thyroid cancer includes the 13 symptoms listed below:

• Neck lump - in the front of the neck near the Adam's apple
• Neck nodule
• Painless neck lump
• Neck swelling
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty speaking
• Voice changes
• Swollen neck lymph nodes
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Throat pain
• Neck pain

Note that Thyroid cancer symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Thyroid cancer signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Thyroid cancer

Do I have Thyroid cancer?

• Thyroid cancer: Introduction
• Thyroid cancer: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Thyroid cancer
• Hidden Causes of Thyroid cancer
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Thyroid cancer
• More about Thyroid cancer

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Thyroid cancer:

• Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Tests
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Tests
• Thyroid: Home Testing:
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home TSH Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests

Wrongly Diagnosed with Thyroid cancer?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Thyroid cancer includes:

• Benign thyroid growths
• Thyroid nodules (see Thyroid symptoms)
• Goiter
• Benign thyroid nodule
• Subacute thyroiditis

See the full list of 14 alternative diagnoses for Thyroid cancer

More about symptoms of Thyroid cancer:

More information about symptoms of Thyroid cancer and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Thyroid cancer
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Thyroid cancer
• Underlying causes of Thyroid cancer
• Risk factors for Thyroid cancer

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Difficulty breathing - see all causes of Breathing difficulties
• Difficulty speaking - see all causes of Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty swallowing - see all causes of Swallowing difficulty
• Hoarseness - see all causes of Hoarse
• Neck lump - see all causes of Neck lump
• Neck nodule - see all causes of Neck lump
• Neck pain - see all causes of Neck pain
• Neck swelling - see all causes of Neck swelling
• Painless neck lump - see all causes of Neck lump
• Swollen lymph nodes - see all causes of Swollen lymph nodes
• Swollen neck lymph nodes - see all causes of Swollen neck lymph nodes
• Throat pain - see all causes of Throat pain
• Voice changes - see all causes of Voice changes

Medical Books Online about Thyroid cancer

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Thyroid cancer are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Thyroid cancer.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Thyroid cancer: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The primary signs of thyroid cancer are a painless nodule, a hard nodule in an enlarged thyroid gland, or palpable lymph nodes with thyroid enlargement. Eventually, the pressure of such a nodule or enlargement causes hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea, and pain on palpation. If the tumor is large enough to destroy the gland, hypothyroidism follows, with its typical symptoms of low metabolism (mental apathy and sensitivity to cold). However, if the tumor stimulates excess thyroid hormone production, it induces symptoms of hyperthyroidism (sensitivity to heat, restlessness, and hyperactivity). Other clinical features include diarrhea, anorexia, irritability, vocal cord paralysis, and symptoms of distant metastasis.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Malignant spinal neoplasms: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Extramedullary tumors produce symptoms by pressing on nerve roots, the spinal cord, and spinal vessels; intramedullary tumors, by destroying the parenchyma and compressing adjacent areas. Because intramedullary tumors may extend over several spinal cord segments, their symptoms are more variable than those of extramedullary tumors.

The following clinical effects are likely with all malignant spinal cord neoplasms:

❑Pain — Most severe directly over the tumor, radiates around the trunk or down the limb on the affected side and is unrelieved by bed rest. It may worsen when lying down or with straining, coughing, or sneezing. Pain can be diffuse, occurring over all extremities. Generally, it progressively worsens and isn't relieved by medication.

❑ Motor symptoms — Asymmetric spastic muscle weakness, decreased muscle tone, exaggerated reflexes, and a positive Babinski's sign. If the tumor is at the level of the cauda equina, muscle flaccidity, muscle wasting, weakness, and progressive diminution in tendon reflexes are characteristic.

❑ Sensory deficits — Contralateral loss of pain, temperature, and touch sensation (Brown-Séquard's syndrome). These losses are less obvious to the patient than functional motor changes. Caudal lesions invariably produce paresthesias in the nerve distribution pathway of the involved roots.

❑Bowel and bladder symptoms — Urine retention is an inevitable late sign with cord compression. Early signs include incomplete emptying or difficulty with the urine stream, which is usually unnoticed or ignored. Cauda equina tumors cause bladder and bowel incontinence due to flaccid paralysis.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Thyroiditis: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Autoimmune thyroiditis is usually asymptomatic and commonly occurs in females, with peak incidence in middle age. It’s the most prevalent cause of spontaneous hypothyroidism.

In subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, moderate thyroid enlargement may follow an upper respiratory tract infection or a sore throat. The thyroid may be painful and tender, and dysphagia may occur.

In Riedel’s thyroiditis, the gland enlarges slowly as it’s replaced by hard, fibrous tissues. This fibrosis may compress the trachea or the esophagus. The thyroid feels firm.

Clinical effects of miscellaneous thyroiditis are characteristic of pyogenic infection: fever, pain, tenderness, and reddened skin over the gland.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Thyroid cancer: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

The primary signs of thyroid cancer are a painless nodule, a hard nodule in an enlarged thyroid gland, or palpable lymph nodes with thyroid enlargement. Eventually, the pressure of such a nodule or enlargement causes hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea, and pain on palpation.

If the tumor is large enough to destroy the gland, hypothyroidism follows, with its typical symptoms of low metabolism (mental apathy and sensitivity to cold). However, if the tumor stimulates excess thyroid hormone production, it induces symptoms of thyrotoxicosis (sensitivity to heat, restlessness, and hyperactivity).

Other clinical features include diarrhea, anorexia, irritability, vocal cord paralysis, and symptoms of distant metastasis.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Thyroiditis: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Autoimmune thyroiditis is usually asymptomatic and commonly occurs in women, with peak incidence in middle age. It’s the most prevalent cause of spontaneous hypothyroidism.

In subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, moderate thyroid enlargement may follow an upper respiratory tract infection or a sore throat. The thyroid may be painful and tender, and dysphagia may occur.

In Riedel’s thyroiditis, the gland enlarges slowly as it’s replaced by hard, fibrous tissues. This fibrosis may compress the trachea or the esophagus. The thyroid feels firm.

Clinical effects of miscellaneous thyroiditis are characteristic of pyogenic infection: fever, pain, tenderness, and reddened skin over the gland.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Thyroid cancer:

Early thyroid cancer often does not cause symptoms . But as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• A lump, or nodule, in the front of the neck near the Adam's apple;

• Hoarseness or difficulty speaking in a normal voice;

• Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck;

• Difficulty swallowing or breathing; or

• Pain in the throat or neck.

These symptoms are not sure signs of thyroid cancer. An infection, a benign goiter, or another problem also could cause these symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible. Only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Thyroid Cancer: NCI)

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Thyroid cancer
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Thyroid cancer
• How serious is Thyroid cancer?
• More about Thyroid cancer
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Thyroid cancer:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Thyroid cancer. This signs and symptoms information for Thyroid cancer has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Thyroid cancer signs or Thyroid cancer symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Thyroid cancer may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Thyroid cancer symptoms.