Thyroid Cancer in Canada

1
Thyroid Cancer in Canada

• Is thyroid cancer a growing problem?
• Trends in Incidence and Mortality

2
Introduction

• Biology and Etiology
• Examination of incidence rate trends in thyroid
  cancer
• Recent diagnostic technical advances
• Examination of mortality rate trends in thyroid
  cancer
• Take home message

3
Thyroid Anatomy
4
Thyroid Gland

• Large endocrine organ
• Located on the front of the neck shaped like a
  butterfly
• Contains two lobes and an isthmus
• Makes thyroid hormone, which regulates the rate
  of your body functions
• Controls your body thermostat

5
Thyroid Cancer Risk Factors

• Cause of most thyroid cancer is unknown
• Genetics
• Medullary thyroid cancer
• Women are at higher risk
• Hormonal changes associated with reproductive
  years
• Other
• Radiation exposure
• Dietary Iodine

6
Diagnostic Techniques

• Fine Needle Aspirate Biopsy
• Needle biopsy of tissue for microscopic analysis
• Imaging
• Ultrasound
• Clinical
• Palpation by clinician

7
Number of Thyroid Cancers in Canada 2004

• 1,828 Thyroid Cancer cases were diagnosed in
  Canada in 2004

8
Proportion of Cancer Sites 2000-2004
9
Thyroid Cancer in Females and Males 2004

• 80 Female
• 20 Male

10
Thyroid Cancer Over Time
11
Age Specific Incidence Rates
12
Histology of Thyroid Cancer2002-2004

• Papillary Carcinoma
• 82.3
• Follicular Carcinoma
• 2.3
• Medullary Carcinoma
• 0.10
• Anaplastic/Undifferentiated Carcinoma
• 0.7
• All others
• 14.6

13
Incidence Rate by Diagnosis Year for Histology
Incidence Rate
14
Age-adjusted Regional Incidence Rates
15
Mortality Rates of Thyroid Cancer
16
Messages

• The rising incidence of thyroid cancer in Canada
  is not a public health concern
• Technological advancements in diagnostic
  techniques are likely behind the increase in
  thyroid cancer incidence rates
• Mortality rates in thyroid cancer have been
  relatively stable

17
Action

• A screening program is not necessary for Thyroid
  Cancer
• Current practices in diagnosis and treatment
  appear to be effective
• Allocation of funding to screening programs for
  other cancers may be a more efficient use of
  funding