Carcinoma of the thyroid gland

Sixty-three cases of cancer of the thyroid gland were studied. In 16 cases the cancer arose in an adenoma-without clinical evidence of carcinoma in any instance.Hoarseness, dyspnea and dysphagia, fixation and hardness, and slow enlargement of the lateral lymph nodes were the most common diagnostic signs and symptoms. The most common avenue of spread is the lymphatic system. In two-thirds of the cases in which metastasis occurred, the cervical nodes were involved. Prognosis is related to the histologic type of the lesion. Of 35 patients observed for five years after treatment, ten had no evidence of disease at the end of that time. Twenty were followed for ten years and four of them apparently were free of cancer. The trend in treatment is toward more extensive surgical dissection. In inoperable cases, irradiation has been used with some benefit.