What causes thyroid cancer?

In most cases, scientists do not know what causes thyroid cancer, but there are a few risk factors that have been associated with the development of thyroid cancer.

The first of these is radiation exposure to the thyroid gland. From the 1920's through the 1950's, certain conditions including acne, inflammation of the skin, enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids, and enlargement of the thymus gland were treated with X-rays. In later years, it was discovered that patients who had been exposed to these X-rays were more likely to develop thyroid cancer. Studies have shown that there is no increased risk of thyroid cancer associated with exposure to dental X-rays. Modern radiation therapy used for treatment of cancer in the head, neck, or chest is also associated with a smaller risk of thyroid cancer.

A predisposition to certain forms of thyroid cancer can be inherited. A specific form of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer can be inherited as familial medullary thyroid cancer or as a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia 2. Familial medullary thyroid carcinoma leads to growth of tumors in the thyroid gland without involvement of other endocrine glands. Children of parents with this condition are at risk of developing medullary thyroid cancer, and should also be evaluated and followed with appropriate testing. Multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 is a syndrome caused by a genetic alteration that leads to the growth of tumors the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, and the adrenal glands. Children of parents with this syndrome are at risk of developing medullary thyroid cancer, and should be evaluated and followed with appropriate testing.

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