What are symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer?
While not everyone will have the same symptoms, here are some of the most common signs of medullary thyroid cancer:
- Neck lump. A single lump on the front of the neck is the most common symptom.
- Neck pain.
- Hoarseness.
- Coughing.
- Trouble swallowing (dysphagia).
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
What are the causes of medullary thyroid cancer?
Patients with an inherited form of medullary thyroid cancer usually have a mutation in the RET gene. This mutation causes the development of medullary thyroid cancer. A blood test for a mutation in the RET proto-oncogene can lead to an early diagnosis of MTC and surgery to remove it.
How is medullary thyroid cancer diagnosed?
Imaging: MTC is diagnosed by your doctor first feeling your throat to check for a lump, followed by imaging scans of the thyroid. Imaging scans might include ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Biopsy: The doctor will also want to take out a small amount of tissue, called a biopsy, from the thyroid using a very thin needle.
How common is medullary thyroid carcinoma?
How common is medullary thyroid cancer? Thyroid cancer is fairly common. There are four different types of thyroid cancers and MTC is the rarest type making up 3% to 4% of all thyroid cancers. About 1,000 people are diagnosed with MTC each year in the U.S.
What is a medullary tumor?
Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is cancer of the thyroid gland that starts in cells that release a hormone called calcitonin. These cells are called “C” cells. The thyroid gland is located inside the front of your lower neck.
Can thyroid make you cough at night?
“As the nodules get larger, they can irritate your throat and lead to a long-lasting cough. For most people, this cough is a dry, hacking sort of cough.” In addition to cough, thyroid growth can lead to pressing on the vocal cords and a hoarse voice, or pressing on the esophagus and difficulty swallowing food.
Can thyroid problems make you cough?
Another symptom of thyroid nodules is a chronic cough, a cough that just won’t seem to go away. Like the nodules that cause swallowing symptoms, thyroid nodules that cause the patient to cough are almost always on the back side of the thyroid.