Does thyroid cancer metastasize to brain?

For differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), the brain is an unusual site for distant metastases, occurring in about 0.15% to 1.3% of the cases [2]. Studies conducted in tertiary referral centers reported a prevalence of brain metastases from DTC of 1.2% [3] and 1.4% [4].

How bad is metastatic thyroid cancer?

If there is distant spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic disease. The 5-year survival rate for metastatic papillary thyroid cancer is 76%. For metastatic follicular thyroid cancer, the rate is 64%. The rate for metastatic medullary thyroid cancer is 38%.

Which is the most common site of metastases for papillary thyroid cancer?

It typically spreads via lymphatic extension. The rate of regional PTC metastasis to the neck is relatively high, while metastases outside the deep cervical chain are rare. Distant metastases are found in only 1% of patients with PTC at the time of surgery; the two most common sites are the lung and bone.

Where does thyroid cancer usually metastasize to?

Most patients with thyroid cancer have the cancer contained in the thyroid at the time of diagnosis. About 30% will have metastatic cancer, with most having spread of the cancer to the lymph nodes in the neck and only 1-4% having spread of the cancer outside of the neck to other organs such as the lungs and bone.

What is the prognosis for papillary thyroid cancer?

The survival rate for papillary thyroid cancer is exceptional. More than 95% of adults with this cancer survive a minimum of 10 years. The prognosis is better for people who are below 40 and for those with smaller sized tumors.

Is there a cure for papillary thyroid cancer?

Fortunately, papillary thyroid cancer is also the thyroid cancer with the best prognosis and most patients can be cured if treated appropriately and early enough. Up to 20% of patients will have involved lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis.

Do people ever die from papillary thyroid cancer?

The five-year survival rate is 98% when papillary, follicular, and medullary thyroid cancers are caught early and has not spread past the gland. There are fewer than 2,000 deaths in the U.S. due to thyroid cancer each year.

What do you need to know about papillary thyroid cancer?

Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common kind of thyroid cancer. It may also be called differentiated thyroid cancer. This kind tends to grow very slowly and is most often in only one lobe of the thyroid gland. Even though they grow slowly, papillary cancers often spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.