Introduction and epidemiology

Thyroid cancer is a spectrum of tumours characterized by different biology and clinical behaviour. The presence of a micropapillary carcinoma of thyroid may have little impact on life expectancy, whereas anaplastic thyroid cancer is often lethal. While this disease is uncommon, representing only about 1% of all cancers, thyroid cancer is the most frequently occurring endocrine malignancy and incidence of Papillary thyroid cancer is increasing. It is the fastest rising cancer in men and women in the United states. In excess of 2100 new cases each year in the UK and over 48,000 in the United States. The incidence is increasing worldwide (213,000 new cases in 2008) including a 2.6-fold increase in the USA 1973–2006.

Differentiated thyroid cancer is highly curable (about 95% or more five year survival) and can also affect children, young adults. Thyroid cancer should be treated by a multidisciplinary team of experts.

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