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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration of a fine needle aspiration Fine needle aspiration

Tests and procedures used to diagnose thyroid cancer include:

  • A physical exam to feel your neck for thyroid lumps and lymph node swelling
  • Blood tests, including a test to measure the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your body
  • Needle biopsy to remove cells from your thyroid and examine them using a microscope to look for cancer
  • Imaging tests, such as ultrasound of the neck to look for enlarged lymph nodes
Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment

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References
  1. SEER stat fact sheets. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/hrml/thyro.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
  2. Thyroid carcinoma. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/thyroid.pdf. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
  3. What you need to know about thyroid cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/thyroid/allpages/print. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
  4. Cancer of the thyroid. American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochurs/cancer_of_thyroid.html. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
  5. Lal G, et al. Cancer of the endocrine system. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1271.
  6. Thyroid scan and uptake. RadiologyInfo. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=thyroiduptake. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
  7. Dralle H, et al. Surgical approaches in thyroid cancer and lymph-node metastases. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008;22:971.
  8. Radioiodine (I-131) therapy for hyperthyroidism. RadiologyInfo. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=radioiodine. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
  9. Can thyroid cancer be prevented? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Can_thyroid_cancer_be_prevented_43.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
  10. Use of potassium iodide. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/protect-public/potassium-iodid-use.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
  11. What can I do to prepare for a radiological emergency? United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/prepare-for-radiological-emerg.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2009.
  12. Kronenberg HM, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:422.
  13. Nippoldt TB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 13, 2009.

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April 10, 2009

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