Thyroid Cancer.

What is it?

Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the thyroid gland.

This page will go through the types of thyroid cancer to help you learn the difference.

Main Thyroid Cancer Cell Types

Follicular Cells

These types of cells make thyroid hormone from the iodine in blood to help regulate metabolism. If you have too little or too much thyroid hormone, you develop hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The pituitary gland tells your body how much to release. 

C Cells

C cells makes calcitonin which is a hormone that helps control how your body uses calcium. These cells are also called parafollicular cells.

Types of Thyroid Cancer

Differentiated

includes papillary, follicular and Hürthle cell

Medullary

(MTC) develops from the C cells from your thyroid gland. There are 2 types of MTC.

Anaplastic

also called undifferentiated

Differentiated

Papillary

  • is the most common type of thyroid cancer

  • usually grows very slowly

  • can often spread (metastasize) to the lymph nodes in the neck

  • treatments are often successfully and rarely result in fatality

Papillary subtypes

  • there are several subtypes of papillary thyroid cancer

  • follicular subtype usually has the same positive prognosis as papillary

  • other subtypes include columnar, tall cell, insular, and diffuse sclerosing–these are not as common but can grow more quickly

Follicular

  • is the next most common type of thyroid cancer after Papillary

  • more common in areas of the world where not enough iodine is consumed in your diet

  • usually doesn't spread to the lymph nodes, but can spread to other parts of your body

Hürthle cell

  • harder to find and treat than the above thyroid cancers

  • can metastasize to other parts of the body

  • learn more at Mayo Clinic’s webpage about this cancer type

Medullary

Sporadic

  • not inherited from family members

  • occurs mostly in older adults

  • often affects only one thyroid lobe

Familial

  • is inherited from family members

  • often develops during childhood or early adulthood 

  • can spread early on

Anaplastic

Anaplastic is a rare thyroid cancer and often spreads very quickly to the neck and other parts of the body, making it quite aggressive.

More Educational Resources

  • Endocrine Basics

    Learn about the types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary, anapestic and hürthle cell.

    Make It

  • Thyroid Disease

    Learn the difference between hypo- and hyperthyroidism, and Graves Disease.

    Make It

  • Survivorship

    Information on thyroid hormone replacement medication, care plans and what comes after.

    Click Here