The thyroid is a gland located in the front of the neck, below the larynx. This gland produces hormones that regulate various vital metabolic processes including growth and energy expenditure.
Thyroid cancer is the abnormal growth of tissue in the thyroid gland. This growth is called a nodule and develops when the cells in the thyroid gland divide uncontrollably and produce extra tissue. These nodules can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Thyroid nodules need to be carefully evaluated and diagnosed in order to differentiate between benign nodules (the vast majority of thyroid nodules) and malignant ones. The malignant types of thyroid cancers include:
- Anaplastic Carcinoma
- Follicular Carcinoma
- Medullary Carcinoma
- Papillary Carcinoma