Factors That May Contribute to Thyroid Cancer Risk

Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO
  • Exposure to Radiation:
    • Exposure to ionizing radiation during childhood:
      • Has been the most extensively studied causative factor in the development of thyroid cancer
    • Factors that increase the risk for developing PTC after radiation exposure include:
      • Female gender
      • Radiation for childhood cancer (rather than benign conditions)
      • A family history of thyroid cancer
    • In one study, younger age at exposure and dose of radiation administered:
      • Significantly influenced the risk of development of cancer
  • Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
    • Some have proposed a potential role of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the development of thyroid cancer
    • These ubiquitous flame retardants may be found in plastics, electrical appliances, televisions, computers, building supplies, foams, carpets, and upholstery
    • PBDEs and their metabolites may accumulate in human tissues and bear a striking structural similarity to thyroxine
    • These compounds have been shown to be potent endocrine disrupters, with thyroid and estrogen effects being the most common
    • Although there has been no direct link between an increased risk of thyroid cancer and PBDEs, their increased oncogenic potential in other tissues, has made them an attractive candidate for further study in thyroid cancer
  • Obesity
    • Obesity and overweight were linked to nearly 18% of all cancer cases and 16% of cancer deaths in 2014
    • Several studies have identified a significantly higher risk of thyroid cancer in overweight and obese patients
    • The inflection point in the incidence of thyroid cancer occurred in the mid-1970s; there was a similar change in the trend for obesity rates in the United States just a few years prior:
      • Over time the slopes of these two conditions have remained nearly parallel:
        • Consequently, some have postulated a potential causal relationship, although the mechanism is elusive
    • Obesity affects the secretion of:
      • Adipokines by adipose tissue, including increased leptin and decreased adiponectin
    • Through complex molecular signaling, these adipokines interact with key factors in carcinogenesis, including:
      • Cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and antiinflammatory cytokines
    • Further studies are necessary to delineate the role of obesity in the development of thyroid cancer, particularly as the incidence of obesity continues to climb throughout Europe, North America, and Asia
  • Hereditary Syndromes
    • The majority of thyroid cancers are sporadic:
      • However, approximately 5% of non-medullary thyroid cancers are hereditary
    • These hereditary cases have been divided into two groups:
      • Those tumors associated with a familial cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, Gardner syndrome, Cowden disease, Carney complex type 1, or Werner syndrome
      • Those with thyroid tumors as the primary feature, such as familial non-medullary thyroid cancer
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Published by Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO

My name is Rodrigo Arrangoiz I am a breast surgeon/ thyroid surgeon / parathyroid surgeon / head and neck surgeon / surgical oncologist that works at Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology in Miami, Florida. I was trained as a surgeon at Michigan State University from (2005 to 2010) where I was a chief resident in 2010. My surgical oncology and head and neck training was performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2012. At the same time I underwent a masters in science (Clinical research for health professionals) at the University of Drexel. Through the International Federation of Head and Neck Societies / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center I performed a two year head and neck surgery and oncology / endocrine fellowship that ended in 2016. Mi nombre es Rodrigo Arrangoiz, soy cirujano oncólogo / cirujano de tumores de cabeza y cuello / cirujano endocrino que trabaja Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology en Miami, Florida. Fui entrenado como cirujano en Michigan State University (2005 a 2010 ) donde fui jefe de residentes en 2010. Mi formación en oncología quirúrgica y e n tumores de cabeza y cuello se realizó en el Fox Chase Cancer Center en Filadelfia de 2010 a 2012. Al mismo tiempo, me sometí a una maestría en ciencias (investigación clínica para profesionales de la salud) en la Universidad de Drexel. A través de la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Cabeza y Cuello / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center realicé una sub especialidad en cirugía de cabeza y cuello / cirugia endocrina de dos años que terminó en 2016.

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