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Thyroid Carcinoma

Metastases to Bone

  • Chapter
Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

Bone metastases occur in 10%–30% of all cancer patients (1). Although thyroid carcinoma accounts for only 1% of all reported malignancies (2), it is one of the top five cancers that most frequently produce bone metastases. Manifestations of thyroid cancer generally vary because of the different types of thyroid malignancies. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are frequently referred to as “differentiated,” because they trap iodine, respond to radioiodine therapy, and synthesize and secrete thyroglobulin. However, within this group, some tumors become poorly differentiated and may lose or not exhibit one or more of these features. Poorly differentiated, undifferentiated, and medullary thyroid cancers tend to behave aggressively and often produce distant metastases. Medullary thyroid cancer is not iodine-avid and cannot be identified with radioiodine scans or treated with radioactive iodine. Similarly, poorly differentiated and undifferentiated thyroid cancers may exhibit reduced or no iodine avidity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

    Steven P. Hodak MD

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

    Kenneth D. Burman MD, MACP (Director, Professor of Medicine)

  3. Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC

    Kenneth D. Burman MD, MACP (Director, Professor of Medicine)

  4. Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD

    Kenneth D. Burman MD, MACP (Director, Professor of Medicine)

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  1. Steven P. Hodak MD
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  2. Kenneth D. Burman MD, MACP
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

    Leonard Wartofsky MD, MPH, MACP  & Douglas Van Nostrand MD, FACP, FACNP  & 

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Hodak, S.P., Burman, K.D. (2006). Thyroid Carcinoma. In: Wartofsky, L., Van Nostrand, D. (eds) Thyroid Cancer. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-995-0_56

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-995-0_56

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