Papillary thyroid cancer is a common type of thyroid cancer. It is especially frequently found in women, patients aged 30-40, children, and thyroid cancer patients with past radiation to the neck and head. In papillary thyroid cancer which is well-differentiated, a thyroglobulin is a possible tumor marker.

Multifocality is common in papillary thyroid cancer, and if there is early lymphatic spread, the prognosis may be worse. Lymph node metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma is sometimes called lateral aberrant thyroid.

Treatment options for papillary thyroid cancer commonly involve surgery. For a size of up to 1 centimeter in diameter (minimal disease) hemithyroidectomy and isthmectomy may be a possibility. In patients with with gross disease (size of over 1 centimeter in diameter) total thyroidectomy is the preferred option, along with central compartment lymph node removal, and possible lateral neck node removal.

Other thyroid cancers include:

Anaplastic cancer

Follicular cancer

Lymphoma

Medullary cancer

Additionally, there are non-cancerous thyroid adenoma tumors.