ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Thyroid Cancer · Understanding the disease

What is thyroid cancer?

Reviewed: 8 November 2026 By: Xiangpeng Liu, MD Topic: Thyroid Cancer Answer length: short, citable
Quick answer

Thyroid cancer is a malignancy of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck, most often papillary carcinoma. Incidence has risen sharply in South Korea, the United States and parts of Europe and Asia, largely because ultrasound detects small, indolent tumours, while mortality has remained low. Many small low-risk cancers can be monitored rather than operated on immediately.

In detail

A thyroid nodule is common and the great majority are benign. The worldwide rise in thyroid cancer incidence over recent decades reflects widespread ultrasound use and overdiagnosis more than a true increase in aggressive disease — death rates have stayed low and flat. Recognising this is important for international patients: a scan finding does not automatically mean an operation is urgent.

When treatment is needed, the main decision is between active surveillance, hemithyroidectomy (lobectomy) and total thyroidectomy, with or without radioactive iodine and neck dissection. Medullary and anaplastic cancers are rare but require different pathways, including RET genetic testing for medullary disease and urgent multimodality care for anaplastic disease.

What this means in practice: this answer is part of the “Understanding the disease” section of the Thyroid Cancer topic. If you are comparing treatment options, also read how to compare a second opinion and which records to send.

Other common questions about thyroid cancer

See all 14 questions in this topic →

Sources for this answer

  1. Global Cancer Facts & Figures, 5th Edition (GLOBOCAN 2022 tables) American Cancer Society · 2024
  2. Thyroid cancer in Asia: incidence, mortality in 2022, and future projections to 2050 European Journal of Cancer Prevention · 2026 · South Korea had the highest ASR in Asia: 7.6/100,000 in men and 39.5/100,000 in women.
  3. Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) International Agency for Research on Cancer / WHO · 2022 · Source of worldwide and country-level incidence and mortality estimates.
  4. Thyroid Cancer (patient information) US National Cancer Institute · 2025

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.