Types of Thyroid Cancer

Overview

There are different types of thyroid cancer. They are based on what the cells look like under a microscope. Your treatment will depend on which type of thyroid cancer you have.

These include:

• Papillary thyroid cancer. This is the most common type of thyroid cancer. It's often only found in one lobe of the thyroid.
• Follicular thyroid cancer. It's found more often in countries where people don't get enough iodine from food.
• Hürthle cell cancer. This is a much less common type. It tends to spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.
• Medullary thyroid cancer. This isn't very common. One type occurs mostly in adults. The other type is inherited and often develops during early childhood.
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer. This is very rare. It's a very aggressive cancer that grows rapidly and is almost always fatal.

Other cancers that can start in the thyroid include lymphoma and sarcoma.