ENT: Thyroid Cancer: Free MSRA Podcast

⚕️ FREE MSRA PODCAST – Thyroid Cancer🎧 A clear, high-yield breakdown of this common endocrine malignancy – perfect for exam prep and real-life clinical scenarios.🧠 Key Learning Points📌 Definition• Malignancy of the thyroid gland (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic, lymphoma)• Most common type = papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) – excellent prognosis📌 Causes & Risk Factors• Ionising radiation exposure (esp. childhood)• Family history of thyroid cancer• Genetic syndromes: MEN2, FAP• RET, BRAF mutations• Pre-existing goitre, thyroid nodules• Female sex, Asian/Black ethnicity• Obesity🧠 Mnemonic: “IRR GONE” – Ionising Radiation, RET, Risk genes, Goitre, Obesity, Nodules, Ethnicity📌 Pathophysiology• Uncontrolled growth from thyroid cells• Subtype determines origin (e.g., follicular cells vs. C cells), spread pattern, and prognosis📌 Symptoms• Painless neck lump or thyroid nodule• Hoarseness (recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement)• Dysphagia, stridor• Hard, fixed, fast-growing nodule• Cervical lymphadenopathy• Often euthyroid (normal TFTs)🧠 Red Flags: Nodule in child, hx of radiation, rapid growth, voice change, cervical nodes📌 Differential Diagnosis• Benign thyroid nodule• Multinodular goitre• Thyroiditis• Thyroglossal cyst• Parathyroid lesion📌 Diagnosis• TFTs – often normal• Ultrasound – 1st line for nodule character & lymph nodes• Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) – diagnostic gold standard• Calcitonin (for medullary thyroid cancer)💡 FNA = Key for diagnosis🔺 Radioiodine scans not used for initial diagnosis📌 Management• MDT approach: Endocrine surgery, oncology, radiology• Total/partial thyroidectomy• Radioactive iodine (RAI) for differentiated types• EBRT & targeted therapy for aggressive/advanced cases• Levothyroxine for life after thyroidectomy• Calcitonin monitoring for medullary subtype🔑 Individualised plan based on type, stage, patient fitness📌 Complications• Hypothyroidism (post-op)• Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury → voice change• Metastasis (esp. lung/bone in FTC)• Recurrence• Psychological distress📌 Prognosis• Papillary & follicular types: ~95% 5-year survival• Anaplastic type: ~5% survival• Better prognosis in females, <50y, early-stage disease📎 More MSRA Resources for Thyroid Cancer📝 Revision Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/thyroid-cancer-revision-notes/🧠 Flashcards: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/thyroid-cancer-flashcards/💬 Accordion Q&A Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/thyroid-cancer-accordion-qa-notes/🚀 Rapid Quiz: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/thyroid-cancer-rapid-quiz/🎓 Full Course: https://www.passthemsra.com/courses/ent-for-the-msra/Hashtags#MSRA #MSRARevision #MSRATextbook #MSRAQuiz #MSRAQuestionBank #MSRAFlashcards #MSRAQANotes #MSRAAccordions #MultiSpecialityRecruitmentAssessment #MSRAOnlineRevision #MSRARevisionWebsite #ThyroidCancer #ENT