Cancer
Background
Cancer - Thyroid Background
Please Note: This content is being reviewed and updated. It may not reflect the most current evidence and recommendations.
Disease Etiology
Although the etiology of many cases of thyroid cancer is not well understood, irradiation of the neck area in childhood and exposure to ionizing radiation caused by nuclear fallout (such as Chernobyl) have been linked to an increased incidence of this type of cancer (1). It has also been found that there are higher rates of follicular and anaplastic cancer in low iodine regions. Additionally, research has suggested that genetic abnormalities may play an important role in the