Definition:
Oxyphil cell carcinoma, more commonly known as Hurthle cell cancer (HCC) is a rare form of cancer affecting the thyroid gland.
Diagnosis:
To diagnose this thyroid cancer, the taking of medical history and a physical exam is done. For a definite diagnosis, the following tests are recommended: ultrasound scan, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, and other diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) computerized tomography (CT) scan, and positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
Treatment:
Surgery is the recommended treatment for this thyroid cancer. After which, the synthetic drug levothyroxine is prescribed.
Symptoms and Signs:
A nodule in the neck, enlarged and swollen lymph nodes, also in the neck, pain in the neck or throat, hoarseness or other changes in the voice, shortness of breath, and trouble swallowing are some of the symptoms of this condition.
Causes:
The cause of oxyphil cell carcinoma is still not known, although some researchers believe that the disease is associated with alterations in DNA, including some related to the aging process. Oxyphil cell carcinoma, like other thyroid cancers is linked to radiation exposure.
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