Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland: Insights into Etiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Possible Lines of Management

Abstract

Thyroid carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies of the endocrine system worldwide. Over the recent years, there has been a significant increase in the newly reported cases of thyroid cancer which may be attributed to the wide use of imaging techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of human diseases. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid malignancies. Lines of treatment include total thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine therapy, and molecular-targeted therapies. Prognosis of thyroid carcinoma depend on many factors including age of the patient, the tumor type and its stage at the time of diagnosis of the disease. This review sheds light on carcinoma of the thyroid gland in view of the recent trends regarding its prevalence, risk factors, types, clinical picture, methods of diagnosis and possible lines of management.