Screening of Family Members of Patients with Papillary THyroid Cancer

The recent finding that papillary thyroid cancer can have a genetic origin impacts the way we think of this cancer. Now all family members need to have a screening visit to the endocrinologist. The screen includes neck exam, TSH, Antibodies, and endocrine neck ultrasound. There is no specific DNA test for papillary thyroid cancer. There is another less common thyroid cancer called medullary that has specific DNA gene test. They only need a blood test. Until there is a specific blood test, we need to do the screening. It is a must that a high quality endocrine neck ultrasound be a key part of the screen. Suspicious nodules as small as 5 mm can be biopsied with ultrasound guidance. The risk begins in childhood and persists into old age. A small cancer removed can be treated without the need for radiation therapy as in the past. The screening is quick and easy. Only the drawing of the blood is invasive. The whole screening procedure takes 15 minutes

Thanks,

Richard Guttler MD